So, how were the sets last night? I didn't catch DND, and I'm especially curious to hear about that one.

We did catch Verde and Miranda Sound, and both turned out to be enjoyable.

2NMC - My Version (so far)

The Carter Administration - Strong songs, good vocals, not a very enthusiastic set, but altogether I enjoyed this band alot. The drummer was cool and collected on the set as he sang. I liked that as well.

Green Rode Shotgun - Excellent again! This was a very good set, left me wanting more...That's a good thing.

Westside Daredevils - New found fun!!! These guys were like a rocked up version of Elvis Costello! I bought the CD and it is great. Recommended.

Crash into June - Not bad. Worth another chance. Missed part of the set due to the need for food. Hopefully I can learn more at a later date.

Miranda Sound - Suck.

The Adventures of Jet - Suck even more.

Verde - Sorry people but I just don't get it. The drummer is freaking awesome and they seem like really nice people, but....BOREING

De Novo Dahl - This one was weird. DND have always impressed me. But this one seemed staged. It felt odd from the get go. The songs were good as always but it just came across all wrong to me. I have no idea what the fuck the 2 guys from DND were thinking when they pranced out on stage during David Meads set and kissed him on the cheeks from both sides, but it was way uncool and the whole room felt it. Fucking dumb.

Slack - Need to see them again, caught the tail end of the set. I think I could get in to it but I need another dose.

Verde--I really like the music. I really like the CDs. Their bass player is very good as well (and would look goood with a lip ring). The girl just needs to work on her guitar playing (her solos are sloppy) and her stage presence.

My fear with De Novo Dahl is being a little bit too over the top with some things.

Where can I get the 2NMC CD so that I can get that Verde track?

~~~~

While listening to Miranda Sound and thinking about short sets last night, I remembered going to this conference in 99 (but it had different initials and was in Feb). That was when the Features really GOT me. It made me realize that even if the sets are short, it can still be a good thing to be exposed to different bands.

I've got an extra one, YDDD. I'll give it to you next time I see you.

What have I seen so far at 2NMC?

-The Carter Administration: A cool band. They sound more pop and more polished since last time I saw them (which was about 2 years ago). I meant to buy their EP. Why did I forget?

-Ruby Amanfu: I talked about this yesterday, but I'll say it again - she's awesome - a real breath of fresh air for Nashville's music scene.

-Stroller: Saw them by accident. Did not care for them at all. Very Nashville.

-the Del Giovanni Clique: Welllll...I went into this one expecting the worst from what I had been told, so I guess I was a little bit pleasantly surprised. It's rap-rock, yes, but it's more funky and less metal-y than what most rap-rock bands are doing. Their bass player is incredible (even though he plays a 5-string furniture bass), and some of the grooves that they hit were really, really tight. I can see how people might be annoyed by the personalities in this band, though - from their comments between songs, they seemed really cocky and boastful. But I guess that's just part of the rap game, right?

-the Friday Hip-Hop showcase: I'm sorry, I don't have the artists' names in front of me. But some were better than others. Everyone that I saw either had a DJ or just rapped over tracks. But I did see instruments set up, so maybe some later were backed by a band? Anyway, there's something really special about going to a hip-hop show - there's a lot of energy and it doesn't feel so pretentious. I'm going to try and go to the one tonight, too.

-De Novo Dahl: What can I say? They gets bizay. I was truly shocked by the stage outfits. I've seen them wear some wild things onstage before, but when they started taking their clothes off, my jaw dropped. Kudos, boys and girl, kudos. Of course the music was awesome. It always is. I was particularly blown away by Sandy, as I was standing right in front of his amp - I had to fashion some make-shift earplugs out of chewing gum wrappers just to survive. I can't wait to see this band again, and next time, I want to hear that new song about Monday morning.

-Slack: Best Slack show that I've ever seen. It was short but sweet and it rocked my ass off.

I agree totally about hip hop shows. It's like there's this neat little party on stage.

Hmmmm...should I have come to this one??

awww, they're his friends. i think it was funny.

I must completely disagree with Flat Chop. Granted, there have been times that DND has done stuff that seemed a little too staged, but I just don't think that last night was one of those times. It really worked, in my opinion. I thought that the David Mead incident was cute and not stupid or weird at all. It was a fun, friendly thing to do and it was quite obvious that it didn't piss him off at all. Had they done it more than once, then it would be a different story. They kicked ass last night. But, where was "Jeffrey"?

they need to play that song at every show....it is one of their best......

I completely agree. It's my favorite at the moment and it could well be their best song, period.

I like it in a novelty sort of way, but I wouldn't call it one of their best.

Great shows at The End tonight. Sam Ashworth never disappoints. Ben Patton would never accept the compliment, but I think he is the best bassist in Nashville. Seriously.

My first time seeing Aireline and while it didn't grab me, it seems like something I could get into after seeing another show or two. Singer and players all very talented.

Possibly the best Hot Pipes show I've seen. If you haven't seen them in a while, I suggest you check them out again. They get better every time I see them.

Also got to check out Ruby Amanfu, High Strung, Westside Daredevils, and Character this weekend. All were good. I'm glad 2nmc is starting to turn into a real festival.

I've seen Aireline a couple of times before, but they never made much of an impression on me until tonight. I thought that their set was stellar. Their songs were really interesting and the arrangements and instrumentation were complex and skillful, but still really passionate. The bass player was especially great. I will see these guys again.

This was the best Hot Pipes show that I've seen. They've developed into one of Nashville's best bands, I think.


(Edited by jamiecarroll at 2:48 am on Sep. 14, 2003)

i agree... that was a ridiculous show. i think they are awesome. the crowd was so into the show, i haven't seen a crowd that rowdy the whole conference. i didn't want to choose, but i missed sam and ben to see snowglobe, but only because they never play around here much, and it was pretty good. they played my request which made me happy... and then i saw IBL, which was good... better than the other time i saw them at the red rose, i think mostly because i could actually hear since the sound system was good..... but the hot pipes topped it all. i hope to see them again soon. nice to meet you, keith, and i had an interesting chat with thelawnwrangler...hehe

I forgot to give a shout-out to TLW. I saw you at Blue Sky after Verde, but didn't say anything. I was shy.

as far as being staged, i must admitt that our crazy outfits did not climb onto our silly little bodies by accident, i wonder if other people's clothes wind up on their bodies without any forsight or planning. jeffery is a great song, but we were not sure about doing the songs with lots of other singers for a sound man who had never done a show of ours, especially in a set that was 30 minutes, no sound check, and 6 bands in a night. we thought we would keep it simple. the streak and kiss was actually a mead request, so any disapproval must be taken up with him and his management. we played charades with him later in the evening - i hope that is okay with all of you.

i thought the conference was awesome. aireline, eto, hotpipes, westside daredevils, and sam ashworth were all awesome. and i know that the greats that i couldn't see would have rocked me.

i wonder if the flaming lips stage all those animal costumes? i guess there could just be zoo jail breaks in every city they play. either way i am sure glad it ends up that way because crazy outfits are fun. it is like halloween whenever you want it to be.

nashville rocks, and it seems to be always getting better, keep with the love yo.

I think that if you look down through the history of rock'n'roll, many of its great moments could be called "staged," from Elvis' stage moves to the Beatles playing on a rooftop to Jimmy Page using a violin bow onstage to the whole concept of Ziggy Stardust to KISS' makeup to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' socks to Zoo TV to the Flaming Lips' giant animals to whatever De Novo Dahl chooses to do next. I could go on and on. Yes, spontaneous is awesome, but staged is awesome, too. I like it when a band cares enough about their live show to make it interesting.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 1:13 am on Sep. 15, 2003)

well said jc. i would also add that it isn't just the bigger mainstream acts either. do you think that trail of dead just happen to feel like smashing their instruments on the spur of the moment at every show. it is showmanship. some people like it, some don't. my fave is dre from outcast. he has become a big influence of mine. his crazy outfits are so awesome, and every time i hear that they are going to be on tv i want to see what he will be wearing.

Speaking of, have ya'll heard OutKast's (Andre's) new single, "Hey Ya," or more importantly, seen the video? Oh my goodness! How much do I love that song? How much do I love that video? Here it is: http://launch.yahoo.com/artist/default.asp...rtistID=1020326

Only 9 more days until I can buy the new album.

Ok, I get your point. But to have a stylist? and choreographed moves on stage?

yes. there. i said it. DND has hired a choreographer. Every move, wink, and head-bob has been strategically placed by a local dance instructor.

i'm just telling you what I heard...

I can hear the instructions now...

"Now guitar player, you like your having more fun than anyone in the room. Good. A little more...imagine that someone just told you something and you're about to crack up. There...that's the look you need..."

"Drummer boy. --- You,.. you... hmmm. Look like you enjoy men. Let that become apparent in your every move. Play the drums as if you were making love to a fresh 18 year old who is looking to you for his coming of age. yes! You're a natural!"

Maybe they should save that money and spend it on a good drum instructor...

You're very convincing there foldsfan. Maybe...a little too convincing...

(Edited by richarddawson at 10:20 am on Sep. 15, 2003)

You asked for it...
Carligula’s 2NMC Adventure

(I already commented on Thursday elsewhere. I saw Unknown Hinson and Ruby Amanfu and both were great)

Friday

8:00 (The End) Tomorrow’s Friend—Very cool 2-piece female indie-rock group from Brooklyn. They had a really unique lo-fi sound with intricate drumming and vocals. They somehow managed to be melodic while still being “art”. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel they did much with their unique sound. I felt bad for these girls cause they came all the way from NY to play for a very small crowd. Them’s the brakes I guess. I saw both of them at several shows throughout the weekend and I thought that was very cool that they wanted to check out the scene.

(I caught a few minutes of Second Saturday at the Exit/In at this point. I must say they put on a much better impression this time around. They play nerdy power pop and even though it seems forced at most times, these kids are actually extremely tight. They put a lot of work into their choreography and for the most part it’s very entertaining. Basically a younger version of Feable Weiner.)

8:50 (Exit/In) Tyler James—Very talented group of nice young men playing nice catchy pop. I get a definite Ben Kweller vibe from these guys. Always nice to see a string section in an indie band.

9:40 (Blue Sky Court) Miranda Sound—Pretty good, somewhat aggressive rock. I was a little put off by the hardcore theatrics. I think they thought they were rocking harder than they actually were.

10:30 (Blue Sky Court) Verde—One of the best Verde shows I’ve seen in a long time (and I’ve seen ‘em all). I think the energy was a bit higher than normal and the crowd really seemed to be appreciating it. Great set with an emphasis on the newer material.

11:20 (Exit/In) De Novo Dahl—What can I say? These guys and gal continue to impress. They’re definitely poised for greater things. I hope the right people saw them Friday night, cause they really shined.

12:10 (The End) Slack—Completely destroyed me in a very, very good way. A nice strong finish to an awesome night.

(I also caught some David Mead after that, but I have to admit I just couldn’t get into it. I blame it on Slack)

Saturday

9:40 (The End) Sam Ashworth—Outstanding pop-rock. There always seems to be a great vibe when Sam’s on stage. Great job on bass by our beloved JamieCarroll!

11:20 (Blue Sky Court) Imaginary Baseball League—I love this band more than I can describe. To my amazement, IBL was the only band I saw all weekend that did a Johnny Cash tribute (Aaron did a very unique signature rendition of Folsom Prison Blues). Ryan was ruling as always on the drums—so much that he busted the house kick drum. Rock’n’Roll!

12:10 (The End) Hot Pipes—Great vibe, more electric performance than normal. I would have more to say about these guys if I hadn’t had some babysitting to attend to.

I wish I could say that I was exposed to new nashville music, but I’m happy to say I saw some great performances by the old favorites. I was really missing The Features, Forget Cassettes, and Jetpack (among others).

Hahahaha!!!!

If I were David Mead I would fire my manager...

You aren't the first person to say that.

Something I'll always miss about Eno2: He would use Flat Chop's statement as a chance to turn it around and bash the management of the Features.

Did anyone catch the High Strung after Verde? They're playing at the End tonight and I was try to decide if it's worth it.

i didnt like them. which means you probably would.

I'm sold. Count me in!

Belated thoughts on 2NMC...

Thursday
Green Rode Shotgun
Seriosly go and buy Bang; it's a damn fine album and produced by a damn fine Brian Carter. The singer was getting his Ian Curtis on and on. Great set.

Luna Halo
Did not stick around

Friday
Westside Daredevils
Absolutely love this band. Knoxville still wears it's pop on its arm.

The Close
Good times, great band. Wish I could have seen more.

The High Strung
Fuck me I love this band. I'm wearing the t-shirt. They could use a shower though.

Character
That Ryan Norris is something else. Dave and William are eerily becoming to resemble one another.

Saturday
The Last Hotel
From Columbus, OH. Very good band. Kind of reminded of terrain somewhere between XTC and Being There era Wilco. The keyboard player is very cute. Kind of like the long lost Ramone sister.

Sam Ashworth
Not as good as his show at Mercy Lounge, he seemed a little deflated at best. However the band was tight as usual and his voice was dead on. Oh he also owes me $40.

Aireline
First time I've really seen these boys, highly impressive indeed. Nice as hell too. And bearded. They like organs and know their way around a song.

Hotpipes
Best Hotpipes show ever. Lots of blood and Rhodes and Arthur and singing and handclaps from the crowd. Daddy was so proud.

Did anyone catch The Eskimos on Saturday. I wish I could have seen them.

God oh god, why why why can't the NMC have taken place a month or so later than it did? Oh, lamentable day...

It has been in October the past two years, but we switched hotels this year and they were booked for our regular dates so we went w/September. Nicer hotel, nicer weather!

You did a wonderful job with everything. The shows that I caught were awesome.

Poohbears Girl is freakin hot....

It's true.

Aye, good job with the whole shindig, but something not-too-cool happened to me because of the earlier date. Oh well...

what happened to you? are we liable? i hope not...lol

again, thanks for the kind words about the event, we are trying to convince one of the staff members that we need to keep this thing going and it helps us to have some ammunition from the people that actually go to the shows...

RD - you aren't allowed to say i am hot!

Liable, hahah, of course not. Really, it's all indirect but it would've been perfect had it just been a month later. Oh well, those're the breaks, I suppose.

I am merely an observer. Besides, you know you like it.