Shellac @ Eagle Rock Center For The Arts; Los Angeles, CA

It’s been just over nine years to the day since I first saw Shellac (supported by Nina Nastasia) at the Knitting Factory in New York City. A lot has changed since then. I grew my first pubic hair. I got rid of the weird satin jackets I used to wear all the time. I stopped only growing out one sideburn at a time. I learned how to enjoy alcohol. I started getting laid consistently. I moved back in with and then away from my parents. I contracted the AIDS virus. I died alone, and no one found my body for weeks. The scene was pretty fetid, and I’m not talking about those stupid “indie” kids who hang out at hip clubs and concert venues.

It was shortly after my first Shellac concert that I read an interview with Steve Albini where he said (and these aren’t his exact words) that there’s no worse way to experience live music than behind a camera. He meant something about removing yourself from the pool of active participants in the concert and relying on a photograph to be your only memory of the show instead of actually paying attention and remembering the show. For a while those remarks about photographing concerts really made me self-conscious. And then for a while I said, “Fuck it. What the fuck does THAT guy know about how my memory works, anyway?” And then I got even more self-conscious and vowed to never photograph a Shellac concert again. These wild mood swings probably had to do with how much pot I was smoking or how laid I was not getting. Nevertheless, I forgot my camera tonight so there aren’t any pictures to prove I was actually at the Eagle Rock Center For The arts. You’ll just have to trust me.

During the first Q&A Steve pleaded with the crowd to bless him with a kind soul who might drive him to Commerce Casino after the show to play some poker. Too bad, if this was a Wednesday night and not a Thursday I would have offered him a ride. Probably would have picked up Nate along the way too, since that guy’s life pretty much revolves around excuses to gamble at casinos these days. During that same Q&A one of the bigger losers in the crowd asked the name of the song they’d just played (it was Watch Song). Bob responded with a comment about looking it up on the Internet, and Steve quickly stated, “Ask the guy with the shitty beard who looks like he can stand to lose twenty pounds.” Way to insult 80% of the crowd, Steve!

Note: I’m thin and have no facial hair. Score one point for Evan.

Hey, I might have gone through an “I’d do anything for Steve Albini” obsessive phase, but at least I don’t look the part of nerdy un-athletic Shellac fan!

Prayer To God was a pleasant closing number until Steve started ranting about pants with belt loops at the end. I always preferred the simple “Holy Father, Mother Mary, Baby Jesus, Amen” closing, which is slightly different from the album version but still a little funny. Extending the outro to joke about pants with words written on the butt…not so funny. Also, what’s with the snare drum obsession during The End Of Radio? Equally unfunny! How about improvising some more insults about the people in the crowd. That always seems to work.

The new songs are cool. The Internet says one is called Riding Bikes but who the hell knows if that’s accurate. Gary, Indiana is one of the better new tunes. Dude, Incredible has — duh — the best song title of the bunch. Compliant. Is that another one? I’m pretty sure it is. Tonight’s rendition of You Came In Me (yes, that title is to be taken literally) was dedicated to the guy who owns The Empty Bottle in Chicago. No one on stage felt the need to elaborate.

Setlist:
Canada
My Black Ass
Compliant
Be Prepared
Gary, Indiana
Watch Song
Steady As She Goes
Riding Bikes
You Came In Me
Ghosts
Dog And Pony Show
Killers [MP3]
The End Of Radio
Copper
Dude, Incredible
Crow
Prayer To God