In 2014, I have decided to stop going to so many shows before I die from exhaustion or boredom or both. Show after show after I show I would once of either bought or Guest Listed, I’ve decided to wait and see. My hope is to cut back to two a week and whenever possible leave it to the last minute and buy it on Stubhub.
My hope is to cut back to two a week, 100 a year, which sounds like a lot but for me is not the amount I am used to. I am also hoping that when Mary Magpie goes to college next year she chooses one near me and can pick up some of the slack.
Of all the shows I passed on recently, including the Hold Steady -a band I never miss but two things , weekday, MHOW, did em in, one I didn’t pass on was Blood Orange. A Thursday (February 6th) at Webster Hall is not perfect but I am gonna have to suck it up. Dev Hynes work with Solange Knowles was excellent and I have been a fan of his solo stuff at least since seeing him opening for Florence + The Machine here, when I wrote: ” Blood Orange failed to do much visually, besides twiddle knobs, spank his synth and play electric guitar to his back up tapes. But his songs are so great, he still managed to impress with. completely new to me, songs off last years Coastal Grooves floored me. Sweet beats and chill keyboards over his sweet vocals, and a sort of indie pop via shoegaze vibe were there but needed to sell a minor masterpiece like “Sutphin Blvd” or a major song like “Champagne Coast” -a song so good it might well have been the single best moment of the entire evening.”
Blood Orange recently released the excellent, like top ten maybe of 2013, Cupid Deluxe and on a purely subjective basis, I am hoping the guy has improved on stage. Indeed, I am betting on it. A definite must see.