More Concert Pictures

I went to Paleo on Wednesday with Chris and Sue and a whole bunch of their Canadian friends (okay, there were a few others mixed in, but they were polite enough to blend and didn't seem phased by hearing a lot of "eh"). It was a really cool time... for me, if Montreux is all about the music, Paleo is all about the atmosphere. Space to dance, plenty of shows to move between, and feeling like, yeah, this is summer. It's a beautiful thing.


This guy, Donovan Frankenreiter, may have the worst name in all of rock. But he can play not bad, he sings his heart out, his band is solid and his songs are goooood.... catchy southern rock, and a great way to start the evening out.

Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah wins my award as best band name I've heard... maybe forever. It was not a bad show, but they seem to me to be the band in search of a chorus. I kept waiting for something catchy, and it just never got there. I think a large part of it was the drumming... the drummer would build a tune on the toms and then.... just stay on the toms. I wanted to climb on stage and beg him to pound that snare and kick-start the whole thing, but he was just not having it, and it felt a lot like riding with someone who's going just a little too fast in second gear... if they would just shift, nothing else would have to change and it could feel so much better. Maybe pop and indie don't mix, I don't know, but these boys certainly embrace the indie image pretty enthusiastically...

Next up was Arcade Fire. They're from Canada, as everyone kept telling me, so I should know them. Two things: I'm not going to get into it here, but they're from Quebec; also, I don't live there any more.

I didn't get any pictures of them. I ended up standing in a bit of low ground, making me feel rather like I do when talking to a crowd of my Swedish friends (who are all about 6" taller than I am), and I was kind of busy dancing. So, sorry.


I only heard a bit of Midlake, but what I heard sounded really, really good. Cool and groovy, they reminded me a bit of Josh Rouse. Similar relaxed vibe, and I was sad that I wasn't able to see more of their show.


I had to miss it, though, to get some noodles and do a bit of carb-loading to get my energy up for the last set - Björk. Unfortunately, it turns out that her new album is not that groovalicious, and my precious carbs went more or less unused. It was interesting to see her, but I think once will be enough for me. I did realize during her set, though, that I really, really want to see AC/DC some time. Anyone up for a road trip?

As usual, you can see some more pictures here.