Catbite, Rodeo Boys, Something To Do at X-Ray Arcade

Drove up with Jo. Liked openers Something To Do so much that we bought some records. Jo liked Rodeo Boys; I appreciated them (they did seem like swell folks), but I wasn't that into them. Catbite killed it. Closed with Sound System.

Nonagon, Mayor for Life at Color Club

 Jo and I walked to the show. We got sausages at Wurst Behavior first, so we missed the first band. The sausages were good, but too expensive for regular visits.

Hinds, Mamalarkey, Spooky Boys at the Aladdin, Portland OR

Hinds at Thalia Hall

Nonagon, American Motors at Illuminated

 A Tuesday night show?!? Outrageous.

Of course it was fun. Never heard of the openers and at first they weren't my jam. Then they found a groove I liked (provided the perfect soundtrack to the black and white horror of The Invisible Man on the TV). I bought the record.

Nonagon had fun, and it showed.

Social Distortion at Salt Shed

 Lovecrimes opened, but I don't think we saw them.

We ran into Drew and Mia (apparently Drew is a big Bad Religion fan?), but didn't talk to them much - it was loud.

Stiff Little Fingers at Metro

Ricky Warwick opened. Apparently he's the singer for Thin Lizzy now. Anyway, he played a solo acoustic set. Bill described him as an Irish Billy Bragg. Which was pretty accurate, but he wasn't nearly that political (if at all). He closed with Ace of Spades, so that was cool.

Stiff Little Fingers killed it. Were they old? Yes. Did they play loud and fast? Yes and yes. Opener Suspect Device set the tone. I think they played their songs faster live (which seems normal for young bands - but this was no young band).

I had stabbing pains in the abdomen which finally overcame me halfway through Barbed Wire Love (which opened the encore). I heard that and closer Alternative Ulster gripping the railing trying to remain upright by the bathroom downstairs. It sounded good anyway. Was it just brutal gas? Kidney Stones? Something more nefarious? Only time will tell.

I eschewed the lakefront ride, and biked straight home. The sky opened up five minutes after I got in, so I guess I made the right call.

Hold Steady at Salt Shed

 Our first time at the Salt Shed, and the start of Amy's love affair with both it and the Mountain Goats.

Ize's Saturday Morning Funtime Band at Chez Ize

They played a bunch of tv theme songs from their youths. So, my well-into-adulthood.