Paul Weller: Fuck The Public

"Absurd anticipation" best sums up how I felt before seeing Paul Weller perform last night at Irving Plaza which was billed as a set of songs by The Jam. It was supposed to be a rare experience since he only mixes in a few Jam songs when he plays solo. "Disgusted disappointment" best sums up how I felt after seeing Paul Weller perform last night at Irving Plaza which was billed as a set of songs by The Jam.

I paid an insane amount of money for the tickets on eBay, too ashamed to admit how much, and I feel completely robbed by Weller. (My companion for the evening, Maccers, robbed me too but that's another story.) He knew the build-up around this and how much scalpers were getting. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally on board with artists who don't want to play songs from their past, that's cool, but this was billed as a night of The Jam and I went to hear The Jam. I never got into any of his other stuff and I wouldn't normally go to one of his solo shows. This was different because THEY FUCKIN' MARKETED THE SHOW AS BEING "THE JAM NIGHT." (I keep repeating this as if it justifies my pre-show exuberance.) Over 2 hours he played just eight Jam songs, which felt more like five honestly. Ultimately, "Man in the Corner Shop" was the highlight.

Others are not as bitter as I am (besides the people "in the crowd" giving him the finger towards the end of the show) but they probably didn't pay as much as I did.
The public gets what the public wants?
Paul Weller at Irving Plaza (night 1) NYC

Oh well, fuck it, don't buy his greatest hits. Here are some of the songs I wanted to hear. Two. More. And these...

"Aunties and Uncles (Impulsive Youths)"
"The Place I Love"
"The Butterfly Collector"

Blipster On The Television Screen

Bad Brains - "I Against I"

Previously: "Banned in DC"

New Radiant Storm King

NRSK in 1995: Peyton Pinkerton, Garrett Fontes, Matt Hunter.

In 2004: "Although they were part of the same early 90s indie-rock explosion as Pavement, Sebadoh and Guided by Voices, New Radiant Storm King never enjoyed that level of success, instead enduring numerous lineup shifts, label snafus, and the death of one founding member. These days, the group's core keeps busy with other projects (Peyton Pinkerton plays guitar in the Pernice Brothers; Matt Hunter has played bass with Wharton Tiers and J Mascis), but NRSK lives on."

Pinkerton and Hunter have also been Silver Jews from time to time.

New Radiant Storm King - "Combat Chair"

Previously: "The Kind Ghost"

Fifteen: Swain's First Bike Ride

This is somewhere in my top 100 albums.

"Definition"
"Sweet Valentine"

Previously: Jeff Ott
Update: Comment request fulfilled

How To Make An American Quit

Wynona Riders - "Bang, Bang, Orangutan"

The Hey Hey You Say Kids

Mike Mills directed the video for Papas Fritas "Hey Hey You Say" - one of the great late 90's indie rock songs (and bands). In fact, all of Helioself is top shelf coed pop that'll stick to the bottom of your shoe if you don't watch where you walk and hum. I caught them once at the Knitting Factory and it was like playing kick-the-can with Bob Pollard. Here are two more for your back pocket.

"We've Got All Night" and "Live By The Water"