Captain Yonder/The Ms, Second Story 3.30.2006

Before I get to the concert, I want to mention that yesterday was a gorgeous 75 degree day, and we’re currently on spring break, so I thought it apt to get outside and do what I like to do outside, which is play basketball. The fact that I’m borderline freakishly tall (6′6″) means that, when I’m seen dribbling and shooting on a court, I tend to get picked first. However, my height is often misleading, because while I love to play, I’m far from really good. I have zero post presence, can’t box out for shit, and only occasionally block a shot despite having a ridiculous 8′2″ reach. I have, though, been known to drain my share of threes when I get on a roll and have a pretty 15-foot jumper.

None of this matters, though, when I’m one of the tallest guys on the court—I inevitably draw the assignment of guarding either: a) the other tallest guy on the court, or b) the fattest guy on the court. Today, I was stuck with defending a guy who was a dead ringer for NBA somebody Juwan Howard, and he pretty much ate me alive. Granted, he had an inch on me and got me in my first game of the calendar year, but it was still pretty pathetic. I’d say I held my own, but the amount of utter soreness is frankly un-put-into-wordsable right now.

Onto the show.  Captain Yonder (above) opened the evening with the decidedly non-ironic and totally smiley greeting “howdy folks!”, and the band’s set proceeded from there accordingly. Lead singer Ryan Pfeiffer was clad head to toe in black, with a button-up shirt and bolo tie creating the image of genteel country gentleman, which was highlighted by his happy-to-be-here demeanor and exquisitely enunciated, very earnest singing style. If it’s an act, it’s a good one, but if it’s real, then well, hmmmm. He was accompanied by studious cellist Esme Schwall, who was equally nattily dressed and, I don’t know, played a mean cello, which gave a unique gravity to Pfeiffer’s songs, which draw from both the literary world and traditional music—they played a rendition of “Banks of the Ohio” (complete with djimbe drum, kazoo, and melodica) and original “Mad Country Love Song 1″, which draws heavily from the poetry of Sylvia Plath. It was a pleasant set, very much the tenor of music I needed at that point, as the painkillers I took before the show were at full blast.

“Mad Country Love Song II” (mp3)

The night turned out to be a triple bill, with Champaign, Illinois’ Headlights playing second. They do the standard boy-girl indie pop thing while seemingly striving for something more interesting, which probably prompted the ubiquitous noise pedals with which they kept introducing songs. The melodies are cute, but the vocals are that emotive, stretched-syllable variety that run counter to any fun that could be had. It’s the kind of music that’s pretty fun live, with bouncy songs about stuff and things, but little to recommend it otherwise. I’m sure the band would disagree. But the band also mentions Neu! as an influence on its myspace, which is totally unnecessary.

Finally, The Ms took the stage at about 1am, and promptly referred to us as “bloomers”. They were the reason I limped toward Second Story this evening, and they put on a set that lived up to the expectations I had for a band that, for me, represents the amazingly catchy, Beatles and Kinks-influenced side of the new psychedelia, which also includes Black Mountain, The Pink Mountaintops, Gris Gris, Dead Meadow, and The Black Angels. They’re one of the best pure rock bands around, and their live set is evidence of that. The three standing-up members each took up a third of the stage and performed in a crisp, tight manner that befitted music as carefully crafted and irresistable as theirs is. They walloped “Shawnee Dupree” and the excellent “Plan of the Man” (mp3), from the fantastic new record Future Women (the only one I’m familiar with), with the assurance of a band with ten times their experience—the bass player, a bit pudgy with a big beard and bangs in his eyes, did a dead-on wobbly-head Paul McCartney the entire time, which was great to watch. Especially after adding two beers to those painkillers.

Filed under: autobiography  bloomingtopia  Captain Yonder  concert  Headlights  Second Story  The M's