yooouuutuuube: Have you seen it?

Maybe you should. It lets you put multiple youtube videos in a row, creating this interesting, trippy effect. It's pretty cool.

Here's the Living Things video for "Let It Rain", in honor of their gig tonight at Off Broadway here in STL.

Hide Your Dollar Bills: Living Things Coming To St Louis

You may have read my post about seeing the Living Things play an afternoon show at SXSW. They were very good, in the vein of T-Rex, or perhaps Louis XIV, and they were wearing all leather, even though it was a fairly warm Texas afternoon. The thing that got everyone talking was when singer Lillian burned a dollar bill in front of the stage, talking about how the government was taking his tax money for the rich no more. It was effective, but then when it was reported that he did the same thing at their next show, maybe a little less so.

But, hey, they really bring a good rock show, so it would be a shame to miss them when they come to STL. Even though they are from here, they haven't actually played a show here in years. They'll be at Off Broadway on May 12, and also playing a free show earlier in the day at Vintage Vinyl, at 4 PM.

As a little background, the Living Things formed in 2003 and consists of three brothers, Lillian Berlin on vocals and guitar, Eve on Bass, and Bosh on drums. Rounding out the group is Corey Becker on guitar, who is not related to anyone else in the band, and is NOT, contrary to the arbitrary rumor that I decided to start here, the love-child of Steely Dan's Walter Becker and gravel-voiced Marianne Faithfull. Their new release is Habeas Corpus, and they have toured with Velvet Revolver and the Vines.

SXSW Music: In Bad Photos Part 1

The cameras were out for Tori Amos.
Line for Peter Murphy.
Living Things tore it up.
Someone told me that Redd Volkeart used to play for Elvis.
Black Joe Lewis, one of the highlights.

Sorry folks. This camera is the worst: Konica Minolta Dimage X50. Avoid at all costs. The camera phones were taking better photos than this guy.

SXSW Music: Thursday Report

Started off the day with Chuy's mexican food on the way out to Barton Springs, and then walked around the botanical gardens, which were nicer than expected. Then it was on to 6th Street.

First up were the Living Things, a rock quartet from our very own St. Louis. They brought the full-on rock show, wearing leather in the hot afternoon, all in black, and were extremely entertaining. The singer's moves were very reminiscent of a young, fully charged Mick Jagger, and I can think of worst performers to crib from. Complaining about taxes and bail-outs, he lit a dollar bill right in front of me, burning it down to a little nub.
After what seemed like 20 hours waiting in line at Elysium for the Peter Murphy show we did indeed get in and saw a good set from this somewhat legendary ex-Bauhaus singer. He played mostly newer stuff and was definitely comfortable in his skin. A little too dramatic for the close quarters, he was like a goth Neil Diamond. Of course, Neil is pretty goth, if you think about it...
Worried that we would not get into the Tori Amos show, we started heading that way, stopping in to see part of the Jimmy Vaughn tribute to Doug Sahm set. Good stuff, and in keeping with my goal to see more local music on this trip.
Surprisingly, we got in easily to the Tori Amos set. She played to a rapt crowd. She's good, she's is good to watch, and I'm glad I saw her, but she is not perhaps my cup of tea. Sorry Tori.
More my speed was the wonderful set by Amanda Palmer at the Central Presbyterian Church. What a beautiful venue to listen to music. This audience was also held silent by and artist that is obviously adored by her fans. Amanda came out and sang a capella, filling the church with her strong voice and then sat down and accompanied herself on the piano. I would say that I like her new solo work better in this more unadorned approach. Sorry Ben Folds, I think you either over-produced "Who Killed Amanda Palmer", or did not produce it to my liking.
Dinosaur Jr. sounded fine instrumentally, J's voice was weak, which it admittedly is also recorded, but it seems to work better in that setting. And it was late. So we left.

And thus ended another SXSW day. For me, at least.