Stephen Malkmus @ Irving:

Stephen Malkmus was fantastic last night. I know I am typically optimistic and love everyone and everything, but even so, this was far better than what I expected. Outside, there were quite a few desperate people looking for tickets. I know because I had to wait for Angela to arrive and I got asked several times if I was selling. I was this close to scalping hers to some girl if she would show me her boobies.

I had gotten through the "Face the Truth" just enough to be able to recognize the songs and think "hey, I recognize this song. it's new." They, (that is, the new stuff), sounded great last night and I can only imagine they’ll be successful once the audience is even more familiar (I was informed S.M. has playing playing many of these for a while). How come I feel New York often has bands perform right before their album comes out, or that same week? It makes me feel so rushed.

How shitty was the opening band? About as shitty as you can get. Last time I went to Irving Plaza, I got there late for the Decemberists, and could barely see. So I figured I err on the side of being early. The band was simultaneously boring and deafeningly loud. Volume will not cover lack of skill. I really hate being negative, but I just can’t remember the last time I had such abhorrence for any band. The guitarist didn’t even appear to be playing. Only once did it sound good, but then I realized, it was pre-recorded. How did I know? Because they didn’t even pretend to play along. Question: How do you make a shitty band sound shittier? Answer: Turn on a strobe light and blind the crowd. Maybe I liked Malkmus so much just for not being that band.