The Mars Volta @ the Palladium, 08.30.09

A minute into the Morricone suite and the mob begins to push. Closer.

"Omar coming. Omar coming."

Ikey Owens initiates the mayhem and from the opening notes, the crowd knows its done for. Cedric in peak form, Omar on interstellar overdrive. Tighter and heavier than ever before.



SETLIST:

"Son et Lumiere"
"Inertiatic E.S.P."
"Goliath"
"Cotopaxi"
"Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)"
"Viscera Eyes"
"Halo of Nembutals"
"Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus"
"Desperate Graves"
"Eunuch Provocateur"
"Ilyena"
"Teflon"
"Drunkship of Lanterns"
"Luciforms"
"The Widow"
"Wax Simulacra"

The National @ the Wiltern, 08.29.09

Raw and unwound from the opening bars of "Runaway". Halfway through "Mr. November" and Matt Berninger's clawing his way to the middle of the art deco theater. A lone light searches. Camera phones float in the dark. The brothers Dessner come unglued at the strings in front of him. Behind him. Twisting through the crowd hitting every word on the way. Standing above the crowd. Screaming. Reeling.

"I won't fuck us over. I'm Mr. November."

SETLIST:

"Runaway" (new)
"Start a War"
"Mistaken for Strangers"
"Brainy"
"Secret Meeting"
"Baby, We'll Be Fine"
"Slow Show"
"Vanderlylle Cry Baby" (new)
"Squalor Victoria"
"Abel"
"All the Wine"
"Available"
"Ada"
"Apartment Story"
"Blood Buzz Ohio" (new)
"Fake Empire"

*****

"Green Gloves"
"Mr. November"
"About Today"

Them Crooked Vultures

How much longer until I can hear a damn song? 30 seconds is not enough, damn it.