After spending time in multiple bands that helped shape the American indie rock scene, Mike Kinsella (Owen - above top) and Bob Nanna (The City on Film) find themselves now touring with nothing save an acoustic guitar (and a loop pedal in the case of Nanna). This summer the two set out on a tour of Europe, and this past Monday I caught their performance at the Arena here in Vienna.
The night began a bit early as the venue's website claimed that doors were at 7pm with an 8pm start time, so I got there around 7:15ish. Instead the show actually began around 9:30. So for a while I sat outside and watched as Mike and Bob attempted to knock a can off a fence with a ball. It took upwards of 50 throws (probably closer to 75) but finally a toss by Bob hit the can. After the show he told me it was one of his most rewarding moments then quickly relived it in his mind.
After being forced inside by a thunderstorm, the show began. The City on Film started things off and offered a set of new songs as well as songs from Nanna's previous bands (Braid and Hey Mercedes) which sounded surprisingly good acoustic. In between songs there were some entertaining sound clip loops and Bob frequently shouted "oww/whoo" (or some variation thereof). On the whole it was an enjoyable set. The set list looked something like this:
The night began a bit early as the venue's website claimed that doors were at 7pm with an 8pm start time, so I got there around 7:15ish. Instead the show actually began around 9:30. So for a while I sat outside and watched as Mike and Bob attempted to knock a can off a fence with a ball. It took upwards of 50 throws (probably closer to 75) but finally a toss by Bob hit the can. After the show he told me it was one of his most rewarding moments then quickly relived it in his mind.
After being forced inside by a thunderstorm, the show began. The City on Film started things off and offered a set of new songs as well as songs from Nanna's previous bands (Braid and Hey Mercedes) which sounded surprisingly good acoustic. In between songs there were some entertaining sound clip loops and Bob frequently shouted "oww/whoo" (or some variation thereof). On the whole it was an enjoyable set. The set list looked something like this:
Never Will Come For Us
Fahren
Stay Six
Secret
Come on Eileen
For Holly
Short Song**
How a Helicopter Sounds
A Dozen Roses
I'd Rather be Wine Drunk
Fahren
Stay Six
Secret
Come on Eileen
For Holly
Short Song**
How a Helicopter Sounds
A Dozen Roses
I'd Rather be Wine Drunk
**This short song is one of many that Nanna has recorded for threadless.com, which will be releasing a collection of about 100 songs by Nanna sometime soon.
After a short pause Owen took the stage and got things going. I saw Owen last April in Chicago (his hometown) and this show was very much different from that experience. Mike still tried to talk to the crowd between songs, but the crowd wasn't very cooperative. I brought up a few things such as Fall Out Boy's "Infinity on High" (he informed us that "those guys are super rich") and covering Metallica (unlike in Chicago, he passed this time). Finally, Mike said that when he gets home he'd have nothing to remember Vienna by, so one concertgoer asked if he'd like a beer thrown at him. He told her to go for it, but nothing happened. Oh well.
A highlight of the set was a bit of tuning during "Bad News." After stopping mid-song a couple times to adjust the tuning (something which happens frequently at Owen songs -- it never ceases to amaze me how he just picks back up), a crafty lyric change was made to make light of the situation. "Whoever you think is watching you tune (normally 'dance') from across the room, they aren't / If anything they feel sorry for you cause you try so hard." I guess the word "tune" was lost on the Austrians though, as Siegel and I were the only ones who laughed.
Despite the lack of the usual banter of an Owen show, the performance itself was still really good. He played a pretty wide variety of songs (although not "A Fever Analog" -- my request received the answer of "I'd have to figure that one out again... and I don't think you all want to see that.") The set list was as follows:
A highlight of the set was a bit of tuning during "Bad News." After stopping mid-song a couple times to adjust the tuning (something which happens frequently at Owen songs -- it never ceases to amaze me how he just picks back up), a crafty lyric change was made to make light of the situation. "Whoever you think is watching you tune (normally 'dance') from across the room, they aren't / If anything they feel sorry for you cause you try so hard." I guess the word "tune" was lost on the Austrians though, as Siegel and I were the only ones who laughed.
Despite the lack of the usual banter of an Owen show, the performance itself was still really good. He played a pretty wide variety of songs (although not "A Fever Analog" -- my request received the answer of "I'd have to figure that one out again... and I don't think you all want to see that.") The set list was as follows:
Breaking Away
Playing Possum for a Peek
Sad Waltzes of Pietro Crespi
Good Deeds
New Song
Bag of Bones
New Song (possibly just a new intro to Bad News)
Bad News
She's a Thief
A Bird in Hand
Playing Possum for a Peek
Sad Waltzes of Pietro Crespi
Good Deeds
New Song
Bag of Bones
New Song (possibly just a new intro to Bad News)
Bad News
She's a Thief
A Bird in Hand
Afterward Siegel and I were invited to hang around, so we chatted with Mike, Bob and their better halves (if you will) for a while. A great show and definitely a highly memorable night for yours truly.
1 comment:
well... it's not entirely true that you were the only ones who laughed. even though i have to admit, i didn't know the song beforehand and just laughed because i liked the lyrics.
still, an amazing show by two amazing songwriters. sigh.
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