The Automatik

Sam Roberts/Sloan
Olympic Island-Toronto, Ontario, Canada
August 7, 2004
Also featuring: Death From Above 1979, The Arcade Fire, Buck 65, Broken Social Scene, Constantines, Pilate, and The Stills

Finally, a real Sloan show. In Canada.
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The Everyones
Sloan
Jet
House of Blues
July 18, 2004

I thought that having to wait a month or so to see Sloan after buying the tickets to the show would mean that my giddy, fangirlish anticipation would have waned somewhat and I’d be able to relax and not make a fool of myself. But I was wrong.
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Twiropa
April 5, 2004

I bought the tickets for this show so long ago that I almost forgot about it. My excitement also waned considerably since the ticket purchase due to my somewhat less than enthusiastic feelings about Air’s latest album Talkie Walkie, but I knew it would be an enjoyable show anyway. And despite my disappointment upon finding out that Jason Falkner would not be touring with them this time, I was looking forward to seeing those French tiny gypsies, Jean-Benoit Dunckel and Nicolas Godin, and Redd Kross’s Brian Reitzell on drums.
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El Matador
January 10, 2004

“The Paleolithic Era is over! Let’s embrace the dawn of the Iron Age!”

So quoth Mr. Quintron at Saturday evening’s final show at El Matador.
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House of Blues
November 21, 2003

I’m one of those people who have never owned a Spiritualized or Spacemen 3 album. I couldn’t even name one of either band’s songs. I’ll give you a minute to rouse yourself from a shocked stupor.
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House of Blues
September 19, 2003

I’m looking for a song to sing
I’m looking for a friend to borrow
I’m looking for my radio
So I might find a heart to follow
-Hanson, “A Song to Sing”
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House of Blues
September 27, 2003

Last time I saw the Super Furry Animals, they were so loud that my ears rang for two days. This time, I wisely remembered to pack earplugs. Sadly, they did not block out Grandaddy, who thankfully performed last and spared me from having to endure their entire set. It seems unbelievable to me that anyone would want to follow the phantom power of the Super Furry Animals, particularly Grandaddy, who I saw open for Elliott Smith three years ago and who didn’t impress me then.
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House of Blues
May 31, 2003

I’ll let you in on a little secret: that whole “grunge” thing from the 90s was just some A&R guy’s way of making real rock music palatable to the masses again. Consider that the only things approaching rock in the late 80s were Redd Kross, Jane’s Addiction, and the first Guns ‘n’ Roses album and this will start to make sense. I have no concrete proof of this theory; it’s just a hunch, but a hunch that is edging closer to a fully-fledged hypothesis after seeing the Melvins again.
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The Horseshoe Tavern
March 1, 2003

Seeing shows in other cities (or other countries, for that matter) is always exciting and yet, a bit predictable. The thrill of seeing a well-loved band that I’d never have the opportunity to witness live in the Dirty South is always welcome, but I could do without the tiresome parade of hipsters that I swear I recognize from clubs in New Orleans.
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The Shim Sham Club
November 16, 2002

What show review of mine would be complete without snarky and amused commentary on those who attended? This one won’t be any different. But first, let’s talk about X.
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