i have a new mythological boyfriend

September 22, 2005: Beck at the State Theater in Detroit--illness
November 10, 2005: Jeff Tweedy at Calvin--illness
March 25, 2006: Silver Jews at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor--confusion regarding start time of concert, parking dilemmas, overwhelmingly oppressive smoky and hot venue

Thursday night's concert was sort of a last chance for Peter and Erin to attend a show without mishap. Despite having only gotten 5 hours of sleep the night before, despite being told we were going to hit rush hour in Detroit, despite not having an idea as to where we were going to eat, and despite neither of us having any real idea where the venue was I am going to say that the entire experience was as close to perfection as one can get.

And to all of you concerned McDonald's was going to be my dining event, fear not.
We ate at the Novi Denny's.
And it was go-od.

Our timing ended up being impeccable. We did breeze past the Magic Stick initially though the mistake was quickly rectified by merely turning around and driving back the way we came. There was no discussion as to where we should park. We just turned down the side-street right past the majestic and found a safe and secure FREE parking space. Though the doors opened at 7pm, we arrived at around 7:45ish. There was no line snaking around the corner. There was no line to get up the stairs. We just walked up to the bored looking young man taking tickets and waltzed into one of the coolest venues I have been to in awhile. High ceilings, wood floors, big open windows along one side and 8 pool tables along the other. I walked up to the bar to asses my options and was immediately talked through the beer prices by a kickass bartender. Had he not stepped in to educatate me, we would have spent $5.00 a piece for Bells. Instead we stuck with the $3.00 PBRs eventually intending to work our way down to the Beast for $1.50 or $2.00 (Thank the Lord things never got that desperate). We sat at the bar for about 20 minutes taking in the atmosphere and marveling at how empty the place was and then all of sudden, without introduction, Hem took the stage.

I stood about 10 feet from the stage amongst maybe 50 people and listened to a band I have really enjoyed for about 5 years. Sally Ellyson has the most ethereal voice I have heard and live she was just amazing. I am horrific at remembering song titles and orders, but I know the majority of what they played was off Eveningland--The Fire Thief, My Father's Waltz, Hollow, and Jackson. Only 2 from Rabbit Songs, much to my disappointment--When I was drinking (a personal fav) and Halfacre. They also played 2 from the new album they're recording right now--Resevoir (which is on the sampler I picked up for free) and another song that they'd never performed live before. It was actually a pretty short set, though I might have fallen asleep had they gone on much longer as most everything they played had a lullaby quality to it. A little kid actually fell asleep in his mom's lap while sitting on the floor in the front row. Awwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

We headed back to the bar to wait for the next set and as we walked up to a table I saw a much younger-looking-than-I-ever-expected gentleman animatedly talking to couple of guys. I thought for sure Peter had seen him, so I didn't say anything at first assuming that if it was indeed Josh Ritter he'd say something. I finally couldn't take it any longer and pointed him out. Yeah, he was standing about 5 feet away from us just hanging out and talking to a bunch of fans (an aside: much like my former mythological boyfriend, Jeff Tweedy, there seemed to be an abundance of young bearded, glasses-wearing, sensitive-looking men traveling in packs at this concert) before the show. Blushy. I got a little blushy. Kind of like the way I get blushy when all of a sudden I notice just how attractive someone's dad is...ahem.

It was a pretty quick turnover and soon we were about 10 or 15 feet away from the stage now surrounded by a whopping--what--150 people maybe? And when I say "surrounded" I mean we had more than ample room to move, breathe, and even get closer had we so desired. He started solo with Idaho and I was a little worried that I was in for more chilled out, sleepy music. Ah, no. Though he eased into it, Josh Ritter rocked out. Lots of rocking out. Tons. Of. Rocking. Out. I was not a huge fan of Animal Years when I first heard it. It felt over-produced and less rambling than Golden Age of Radio or even Hello Starling. I am now happy to say that I love that gosh darn album. The look of joy on his face while he plays live is infectious. I had the sense on more than one occasion that he was singing directly to me--thank you ridiculously small crowd!!!--so sincerely and intently. He's a big fan of throwing out the dedications: Thin Blue Flame was for the earthquake victims in Pakistan; You Don't Make it Easy Babe for Dick Cheney (heh heh!); Lawrence, KS (Can't leave this world behind) for Muriel Sparks--played sans electric enhancements...Other highlights for me included Me and Jiggs, Girl in the War, Kathleen (of course), Wings, Golden Age of Radio, Snow is Gone (which naturally got a huge response from the Michigan crowd), Good Man, Best for the Best, and Roll On.

Post- show I scurried up to the merchandise table to sign up for Hem's mailing list and get my free sampler (I wasn't able to go up previously in the evening as Sally Ellyson herself was manning the table and I was incapable of handling the potential interaction. I mean, honestly, what does one say?!? "Hey. I love you. Seriously. And I have. For, like, 5 years. I, uh, heard about you from my friend Amy who lives in Minnesota now. Well actually she's moving to Colorado, but anyway, she heard you on NPR and then I heard you and ever since then I've loved you. Your voice is angelic. Rabbit Songs is my favorite album. Not that I don't like Eveningland and after tonight I'll definitely give it another listen. And I really can't wait to hear your new, uh, stuff. Thanks for, um, playing. Here. In Detroit. Yeah." Tempest in a teapot, indeed!) and then headed back to the bar for one last beer. The long drive back was surprisingly not too awful thanks to some Green Mountain Coffee purchased at a gas station. It was also thanks to that fantastic feeling one gets after going to see a really great show: revitalized, reenergized, and excited about music again.

Rumor has it Hem may be playing at Calvin during the next academic year and Mr. Ritter himself mentioned a return to Michigan sometime this fall. I have a feeling by the time these events take place, their ticket prices will be a tad higher than the $10.00 we paid, but trust me seeing either of them is well worth it.

I will no longer be making fun of Dylan fanatics. I just posted a ridiculously long review of a concert that only about 150 people saw. Look what has happened to me in one very short year.
Berghoef, you outta be proud.