10/19/10 - Frightened Rabbit, Plants and Animals, Bad Veins

...at the Loft.

Started out thinking the Studio Bar & Grill (below the Loft) had the weakest pour in Dallas. Ended up knowing it didn't.

Bad Veins (Cincinnati) - these boys seem to have an affinity for opening for Scottish bands, being as how I saw them open for We Were Promised Jetpacks in Denton back in February. Anyhows, loved them then, and I loved them again. Great stuff. Plants and Animals (Montreal) - pure awesomeness Frightened Rabbit (Selkirk) - having endured the Lucy-van-pelt football treatment back in April (mother-effing vol-CANO!), i was completely stoked to witness FR's return to Dallas, and i was in no way disappointed. The boys presented a perfect mix of the old and the new (Midnight Organ Fight and The Winter of Mixed Drinks), while engaging the audience with anecdotes, witty banter, and their version of Scotch humor between songs. 'Twas everything I'd hoped for.

2/21/10 - We Were Promised Jetpacks, Bad Veins, Burning Hotels

...at Hailey's

The Burning Hotels opened. If it wasn't for their sheer greatness, I'd definitely be in danger of reaching Burning Hotels burn-out status, having now seen them 3 times in as many months. But they are great, so I enjoyed the set, as usual.

Bad Veins (Cincinnati) was up next, and I absolutely loved 'em. Two dudes on stage - guitar and drums, plus a good ol'-fashioned reel to reel, providing everything else. Dark, lush, fuzzy indie pop. Awesome. The Les Savy Fan's verdict: "they're like the Killers, if the Killers weren't douchebags". So there you go.

We Were Promised Jetpacks (Glasgow) headlined. No exaggeration - this was one of the best sets I've ever seen. Label-mates with another favorite band of mine - Frightened Rabbit - they explore the same anthemic territory, but add a more powerful, beefier edge. My gawd, that dude can belt it out and make you believe, ya know what I mean? Just a totally enveloping, emotionally draining yet satisfying experience (at least, for me). Did not want the set to end. Truly phenomenal.