The Ex at Lincoln Hall

Johno had an extra ticket to this, so i got to ride his coattails.  Which was good, because i wanted to go, but totally forgot till the last minute (go figure, right?).

I remember nothing about opener Invisible Things.  Perhaps they really were invisible.

Bear Claw played second and they were their usual amazing selves.  Maybe not as good as a fancy donut, but who's to say really?

The Ex totally killed.  I think they made every single person there happy.  Certainly everyone near us (front and center) had a big, stupid smile plastered on their face.  I was a little worried that they wouldn't hold up to my memories of the first time seeing them (at Lounge Ax, which was just a couple of doors down from here).  I should not have been concerned.  Despite an ever-changing lineup, they held up to those memories and even surpassed them.

And on the bike ride home, i don't think i hit a red light or any traffic.  I'm crediting the Ex with that too.

Wolf Alice at Lincoln Hall

Another concert Ingrid took me to.  Turns out i like this band too, but not nearly as much as Cafe Tacuba.  A perfectly fine way to spend an evening, but i didn't rush out to buy their records or anything.  I still might, though - don't tempt me...

The internet tells me that Drenge and Made Violent opened, but we showed up late and then ate at the bar, so i didn't really see or hear them.  And what little i did see and hear did not make me want to see or hear more.

Riot Fest at Douglass Park

Emmett:  Eagles of Death Metal seem waaayyy over the top

Johno:  That's the point though, right?  Aren't they like 75% schtick

Me: 110%

Primus, Dinosaur Jr. at Eagles Ballroom

Nonagon, Bear Claw, Sweet Cobra, The Austerity Program at the Burlington

ho. lee. crap.

Dog Dayz of Summer at Goose Island Barrel Warehouse

Amy and I drove (or did we bike?) down to eat free hot dogs and watch music.  White Mystery didn't thrill us; I kinda liked the Claudettes.  Bobby Bare Jr is amazing.  We chatted with him on the way out - he was having van trouble.

The hot dogs were, of course, great.  And Doug gave a little talk - clever as usual.  I probably saw some of the Hot Doug's regulars, but I don't remember...

Matt & Kim at the Riviera

Amy really likes the Matt & Kim, and they were playing right down the street from Tiny and Annie, so i thought maybe we could all go.  Then i found out how much tickets were.  And then it sold out.  Drat.

My friend Doug to the rescue!  Not only was he able to hook us up with tickets, but we got to watch the show from the VIP section.  Amy may never watch a show from the floor again.

And what a show it was.  Non-stop energy.  I think Kim spent more time dancing (and twerking) on her drums than she did playing them.  There were those among us, especially the drummer, who suspected the music may not have been as "live" as it could have been - and it didn't matter!  Did they drop balloons on the crowd?  I believe so.  Was there a crazy light show?  You betcha.

Seriously, i think i'm getting tired just thinking about how much jumping about they did.  Energy energy energy.

Both Annie and Amy saw boobs a-flashin' in the crowd.  Tiny and i did not.  Which is totally unfair.

Also, i suspect we substantially raised the average age...