How did Titus Andronicus go from just about my favorite band in the world to not just about my favorite band in the world? How is it possible?
I haven’t seen them once this year, I haven’t seen them since the relatively disappointing Irving Plaza concert last December. One of two times I’ve been less than convinced of the band on stage (the other was opening for Vampire weekend at United Plaza). I was disappointing enough to not bother going out of my way, to Hoboken or Brooklyn , to catch up with them.
The last night of a three night farewell to Maxwells run earlier this summer is already legendary. Three hours the Boss type show. But it was at Maxwells and I wouldn’t have liked it if I went –three hours of looking at the back of peoples heads while worrying about how to get home is certainly not my idea of fun.
I missed it, and the news of a Titus Andronicus ceased to be a must see. Maybe the problem was Local Business. Titus’ first two albums were both masterpieces. If I was in the right mood, I could put The Monitor on my top twenty albums of all time.no questions asked. But Local Business, while at its best is a s great as anything Patrick Stickles has ever put his name to, isn’t always at its best. I’ll give you “Ecce Homo” “Big Country” and “Hot Deuce” no question asked but the nine minute “Tried To Quit Smoking” is quite possibly the worst thing he has ever put his name to. Titus Andronicus were exhibit A for me whenever people complained that rock music sucked.
So I gave up for a while, kept on reading about the band, but kept on not feeling it was worth all the effort to check em out. The band is always stamping round with buddies from Brooklynvegan and Pitchfork, they have no time for a true local business like us.
But I just read in Brooklynvegan where Titus Andronicus are playing (opening) for Lucero, a pretty good roots rocker band (though no Del Lords). Lucero’s Women & Work passed me by at the time but now I’ve caught up I like it fine, though it is no Elvis Club. Neither is Local Business.
If this all seems like backhanded compliments, I don’t know how else to compliment the man who catechisms like “The enemy is everywhere”, “Your life is over” and “You’re a loser but its alright” and for some reason decided being the greatest rock and roll band wasn’t enough when you had competition like… I dunno, Ceremony, a good enough hardcore band for sure, but no Titus Andronicus. Neither is Fucked Up. Indeed, among patrick’s list of wannabes only Spider bags can be mentioned in the same sentence.
So the news Titus are opening for Lucero at the dreaded T5 on November 8th has me heading back out again, knowing I probably missed their best set of 2013 (the one at Maxwells), realizing it might only be an hour. But I like Lucero enough to catch em live and I miss Patrick.
I wish he’d grow his beard back.