Live shows. Can anyone really get enough? It's one thing to listen to your favourite band on CD, or vinyl, or MP3... you could listen to any of your most beloved bands on cassette as far as anyone cares. But the truth is, no matter how many times you can swim your way by album artwork, into record sleeves, or consume music videos for a band you love, one thing can easily become abundantly clear: the music will always sound the same.
That's the intrigue, of course, in the live show. Musicians have been playing music for a live audience since longer than anyone can remember. Many a beautiful note, many a memorable moment, in music history would be entirely lost if there were no live shows throughout the entire world, from past to present. No "Mountain Jam" by The Allman Brothers Band. No Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson apart as a solo artist, apart from his work with Grizzly Bear. Improvisational bands like Holy Fuck or Do Make Say Think would just be jokes. Pavement's second disc from the re-release of Slanted & Enchanted wouldn't have any material. Nirvana's epic live performance, MTV Unplugged in New York, nonexistent.
Live shows are important. They're what keep music alive and thriving. They're what inspire improvisation and solos; what spawn inside jokes, cult followings, and unforgettable performances. Whether in a stadium or in some rinky-dink club downtown, a live show does the music lover's soul good.
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down shines when they're live; in fact, they're touted for their performances. Thao busied herself in late 2008 with some solo performances, in tow with the girls representing The Hotel Café tour (including Priscilla Ahn and Meiko). Now, Ms. Nguyen has her gents in line for a tour with the full band across the States, and I certainly don't exaggerate that they'll be going just about everywhere. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down will have a couple shows at the end of the month, followed by their no-doubt awesome sets during SXSW 2009 in March. Then, starting in April, they will launch on their wild tour, which is going to be a tour you won't want to miss.
You want homework? Well, fine, be diligent little scholars. First, wander over to the feature article, here on Voilà!, for Thao with The Get Down Stay Down. Then, mosey on over to their Myspace. Whenever you're done saying some hello's to them, hustle over to BOTH of their Daytrotter episodes (part one here - part two here). And note that part two has some brand new songs! Then, pull out those date planners, and make sure you jot down Thao with The Get Down Stay Down's show nearest you, and catch them!
PS: This entire article is a big excuse for me (not only to express my love for Thao with The Get Down Stay Down) to post this awesome cover of Aretha Franklin by Thao. Woo!
4/17 - Black Cat - Washington, DC
4/18 - Duke Coffee House - Durham, North Carolina
4/19 - Village Tavern - Mt. Pleasant, SC
4/20 - EARL - Atlanta, GA
4/21 - Club Downunder | Florida State - Tallahassee, FL
4/23 - The Parish - Austin, TX
4/24 - Lola's - Fort Worth, TX
4/25 - The Foundation - Lubbock, TX
4/26 - The Sub-College of Santa Fe - Santa Fe, NM
4/28 - The Loft | UCSD - San Diego, CA
4/29 - The Hotel Café - Los Angeles, CA
4/30 - Independent - San Francisco, CA
5/1 - Mississipi Studios - Portland, OR
5/2 - Chop Suey - Seattle, WA
5/4 - Neurolux - Boise, ID
5/5 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT
5/6 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO
5/9 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL
5/10 - Beachland Tavern - Cleveland, OH
5/12 - Iron Horse - Northampton, MA
5/14 - Bowery Ballroom - New York City, NY
5/15 - First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA
5/16 - The Boot - Norfolk, VT
Baby I Love You by Thao - Thao
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