It's been nearly a year since I "discovered" The Features. I first saw them at BlueCats on August 30 last year. Looking back at the thread for that show, I realize they were definitely "on" that night, and there couldn't be a better show to have a first time experience with.

I stumbled upon the show quite by accident. I was walking through The Old City in Knoxville looking for something to do. I saw that The Features, who I had heard would be touring with the Bowl of Fire from Chicago later in October, were playing at BlueCats. With nothing better to do, I stopped in, and Ingram Hill (who sucked) was playing. I stomached the rest of their set and was blown away by The Features.

I left the club whistling Leave It All Behind, Circus, and Kari-Anne. It was 2 in the morning, but I was pumped. I spent the next week frantically searching for mp3s or SOMETHING, but little was to be found. The Beginning EP just wasn't enough.

Anyway, since then, I've seen The Features 7 times, and they're definitely my favorite band. I've met messageboarders, gone to Steak'n'Shake with them, and traded shows with them. I believe I may have entered Features fandom during the tail end of their tenure as an unknown local band. I hope they're around, immensely famous or not, for a long long time.

Any other first time stories?

The first time I posted this story, I was still a guest and my computer jacked up my post, and I think it was lost somewhere...so here goes again...

I first saw the Features at David Lipscomb University on October 18th, 2001. Prior to that, I had only heard IWE's raves about the band. At the time, I was more excited about going to Cool Springs Galleria (*tiger pants*) than going to the show, so I didn't mind when we arrived late. We only missed the first song ("The Beginning") and the rest completely blew me away. I distinctly remember hearing and being blown away by "Leave It All Behind", "33 1/3", and "Temporary Blues." I left that concert a changed little dude.

Since I was only 17 at the time, I couldn't see them again until the Next Generation show on March 10th. This was my first exposure to the "See You Through" claps and, I must admit, it was jarring and joyous at the same time. So far, I've seen the Features 17 times and they only get better.

Hey Digsy, I have a soundboard recording of your first show.

I think I've told this story several times. Here's the short version:
3/7/97
@ Mercury Theater (Knoxville)
w/Self and the Doubter's Club

I saw them and Sizzling Happy Family (?) from Atlanta open for Reel Big Fish in 1997 (?) at Main Street (?). My then-girlfriend and I were blown away by the awsomeness. It was like nothing we had ever heard and we loved it. We agreed that they schooled Reel Big Fish (not a small feat-- I know). We bought a copy of the EP and wore it out over the next few years. I still have a mousepad from that show (unfortunately it only says Reel Big Fish, but it does have a big Thunder 94 logo).

I didn't see them again until I moved back to Nashville in late 1999. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to think about the new sound-- Armani Suede was the only song I recognized. It didn't take long for me to come around, though. I quickly broke the proverbial cherry of about a dozen Features virgins over the next several months.

Ah, memories...

4/5/02 The Boro

I passed up the chance to see them earlier that year at the Red Rose because I had a huge biology exam I thought I absolutely had to study for. Never again will a class come between me and The Features.

I saw them for the first time at the Blue Sky Court a year ago in September. I had already bought the EP at Tower Records almost a year earlier, because I read about them in the Rage. Unfortunately, I never really listened to the EP much since I got it around the time that I bought White Blood Cells by the White Stripes. Time passed and my friend Mitch suggested that I go with him and Paul to this show. I wasn't really sure what to make of it since it rocked more than the EP. I remember thinking that God Save Rock and Roll and Thursday were the shit. I was shocked at the sheer number of people at this Nashville concert for a Murfreesboro band. Still being a rookie, I thought the only bands out of MBoro were jam bands, since college kids love jam. I was way off. I had never seen anybody in person look so cool playing the drums and honestly, I just watched Rollum play the whole time. A month passed and I found a Features cd that Ray Davies made for Mitch, and promptly stole it. After that, I was hooked hardcore. The next time that I got to see them was at the Boro in November and I can honestly say that I've never looked forward to a show that much in my life. Again, I watched Rollum.

went to the feb. 2002 red rose show with damon.......ive been hooked ever since......

in april of 2002, i went to the david lipscomb show. i, too, only watched rollum the entire time. i later moved on to watching matt, and now i pretty much just watch the crowd.

I believe the first time I saw The Features it was Sept/October 2000 at The End. It was an awesome show!

I think I've already told my story like 5 times elsewhere on this message board. Feel free to search the archives.

...and we made sweet love in the wake of said show...

...and we made sweet love in the wake of said show...

for some reason i thought this thread was going to be about how many message board members everyone has slept with.

my mind is in the gutter

Well, everyone is sleeping with everyone so far....

I heard a CD long before I saw them. I didn't like the Features at first, but they grew on me. The first time I saw them was at the Red Rose in December.... Or somewhere around there. I thought the second show I was was a lot better.

Yeah, you should keep that to yourself. We wouldn't want the messageboard to overload.

April 26th, 2002--- the Greatest Assembling of Bands in the Universe
w\ My Tyger
Character
& De Novo Dahl
It really was one of the most amazing bills I've seen. It was also the first time I met JamieCarroll.

Well, 3 out of 4 ain't bad.

August 1999 at The Boro. Opened with Paid to Think and I've been a fan ever since. I would have seen them before that but they were on sabbatical during my freshman year at MTSU; this was one of the first shows after the hiatus. They were still one of those "Spongebath" bands back then. Man is that funny to think about now. Anyway, since then I think I can safely say I've seen them more than anyone aside from the guy who does the filming.

Peace in the Middle East.

Go Buckeyes.

I'm sure a few of us, particularly JamieCarroll, would have to refute that.

(Edited by Keith at 3:11 pm on Aug. 29, 2003)

Yeah, but I'll bet I remember seeing them more times than you.

hell yeah. they practically wore "hip costumes." it was terrible!

Is that me?

And I think you meant to type Go Hawkeyes

Yes I hate them a whole lot. I hate those boner biting bastards. They are so stupid and I hate them for wearing things.

(Edited by foldsfan at 10:02 am on Aug. 30, 2003)

5.19.01
Red Rose (RIP). I'm pretty sure Of Montreal was one of the opening bands, but I can't remember who else played.
It was my first date with YaDaDaDa.
I really liked the Features from the start, but it took me looking to some of YD's recorded stuff and going to a few more shows to get really hooked.

in all fairness, i havent seen them since said show. i just havent found the right outfit to see them again in. but carl hasnt seen his least favorite in over a year either... and he avoided me last night. we just have a lot of issues to work out if this friendship is going to blossom [i.e. invitations to nintendo tournaments].

I believe it was Spring of 1997 for me....The Magic Bean coffee house in Cookeville, TN. Long ago and far away......It was pretty damn amazing....

Damn, I knew I was going to get shit for that. I was occupied-- that's all I'm going to say about that. I'll work on the video game tourney thing. We got some sweet F-Zero GX action last night. Keith and I would have invited you-- if you had a penis.

Apparently my first post in this string of quotes may have been misunderstood. It was a dis on De Novo Dahl and I posted it because I know a few of those guys read this board from time to time. It's obvious that I'm joking with them and they know it.

With that said, I never really have cared much for Character. I will say that the members I've met are real quality guys and I'll support them whenever I can.

This was my first show!!! And I still have the same mousepad too...it's under my mouse right now...I think I kept it just b/c of the novelty of it. One of my friends added "reely suck" to it and I just had to keep it b/c it's so ridiculous. But the features were great that night, I've been a fan ever since.

holy shit! i was at that show and it is still one of the best shows i have ever seen in my whole entire life!!!

features virginity . . . spring break 2002....i thnk . . . 12th and porter with a quais well known member called "overemo".
it was a fucking fantasitc show. i fell in love that night.

This was a great line-up then, but in retrospect it looks even better. I loved and still love Character. I always liked My Tyger, and now that they are more or less deceased, it would be a treat to catch them again. And at the time, I had only seen De Novo Dahl once, and hadn't really discovered their greatness yet. So if this show were to happen now, it would be a huge deal, at least to me.

Oh, I still have a bunch of pictures from that show I should post somewhere.

Naw Frog, I assume Roadie is referring to me, or at least I think so. My first show was back in 1996, I believe, at the Spongebath New Years show (so I can't remember if it was the end of 95 or the end of 96 but either way I'm sure 96 was the year at some point during the night). Self headlined and I have to admit that was why I was there. Every Features show since has been to see the Features. With the exception from 97-99 when I lived in LA I've seen them at least 2-3 times a year. The last couple of years that number has dramatically increased.

I TOTALLY AGREE!!


Use the mp3 site's image section or e-mail TF.

August 2001 at the Boro. feels like it was only yesterday.......

Ditto for me.

The skinny:
Summer of 1999
Sebastian's in Murfreesboro
w/ Slack

I don't remember the month, but it was autumn of 2002 at the Boro. It may have been late September, or sometime in October. My friend Malinda, a non-MB member, told me about the band and said I would love them. She told me "Don't fall too much in love, 'cause I think they're all married and shit." I love Malinda. And I love The Features. I can't believe it's only been a little more than a year. I've seen them probably....7 or 8 times since then, I think. I'm not good at counting shows.

I was drug out by Jim O'Shea and Will Witherow (maybe Scott too) in fall 1995 to Mainstreet back when Jason Taylor was drumming and Don was on lead guitar. They played in the alleyway and opened with Rabbit March. Good times!

I remember that gig I think....was there a homemade white and black banner hung up that read "Slack" that fell down halfway through their set?

Roger took my Features virginity in the backseat of his car after the show on Friday. It was heaven! However, he hasn't called me yet, but he promised he would. I'm sure he's just been busy...

That sounds nice. I'm sure he'll call you. Lucky bitch!

Some time in 1996 in Murfreesboro...I can't remember the exact show. Probably at The Boro or Mainstreet (bongo inferno, whatever it is).

Anyway, I got their tape in '96 from the Daigle.

Yes. That was the show.

I also remember that Matt Mahaffey was there, and I was very star-struck as I tried to talk to him for the first time.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 7:29 pm on Dec. 8, 2003)

Sorry honey, he was too busy to call you because he was with ME! oh, and miss september, I spell my name MElinda, and I love you too.

That Bastard! He's got some explaining to do for sure! Was it immediately after the show, or was it about 5 or 6 minutes after the show? That prick rushed off saying something about "loading up" his "gear" and never came back.

That explains why he kept calling me Gear and saying, "I'm gonna load you up, bitch!"

November of '99 at Exit/In

I sold merch for my "friends" Rich Creamy Paint. The Features actually opened for RCP. Matt was pissed. Between every single song he would say something like, "No, really. We REALLY REALLY want to thank Rich Creamy Paint for letting us play."

You were there? That was the single worst Features show I've ever seen. I still have fond memories of it, however...

I was at that show...up in the balcony. I thought, even back then, that the Features blew RCP away...and I was somewhat of a RCP fan. I remember that RCP's set that night was awful...all of those technical difficulties and whatnot...lawnwrangler and I just brought up that show a couple of days ago...it was the only time (until Second Saturday, recently) that I've ever seen a local act, playing in a club, insist on using in-ear monitors.

Butterfly Boucher's band used in-ear monitors at Slow Bar. SLOW BAR! She is still fucking awesome though.

I am very curious about Ms. Boucher.

www.butterflyboucher.com

Her album is available in the UK, if you are into the whole import thing.

the first time i saw the features was at lucy's record shop. it was in 95' i believe, but it could have been in 96'. i loved it. i was 15 or 16, and i had not heard anything like it before. at the time i was completely wrapped up in grunge, but the features are responsible for inroducing me to new wave pop. i wll never stop thanking them for sending me from " alice in chains "
to " the cars " and " talking heads " actually i remember someone at that show saying something about the features reminding them of the talking heads, and i went out and bought a heads tape at great escape that week.

a very dear friend turned me onto the features... apparently I reminded him of one of their songs. I'm a bit of a newbie to them, but I'll be losing my live virginity soon enough