where the green grass grows: show review: iron & wine at the electric factory 4/21/11

Lauren and I were up in the air about whether we should go to this show. we were both worried about money and a few other things, but after some discussion, Lauren said "fuck it. lets go." so she bought the tickets a few nights ago.

This was probably one of the best decisions I've made since saying "that's it. I'm done. i quit."

There is something magical about Sam Beam and the music that he and his band bring to the table. on this tour, he has a 10-piece band backing him, and it was phenomenal. one of the things that i like most about Iron & Wine's live show is that the songs have a tendency to be totally different, and in that difference, Mr. Beam finds a way to make them better. for instance, last night's version of house by the sea was done in a calypso style that i loved!

Sam Beam was very talkative and responsive to the things being yelled out by the crowd. in my opinion, that makes the show even more special because the band becomes more human and less robotic and distant. Banter between the band and the crowd (to an extent, at least) is a good thing.

While the set was amazing last night, the crowd sucked. People talked over most of the songs, including a sick performance of fever dream. There was a particularly awesome dude behind me that pushed right into me and spent the next ten minutes making fun of Sam Beam right in my ear; this after almost getting into a fight with what i can assume to be was another douchebag on the same level. There were a group of hippie-wannabe girls next to us that talked about how they were "OMG LIKE SOOOO DRUNK" for the better part of the show. this show wasn't cheap. why anyone would want to spend 45 dollars to go drink seven dollar beers and talk to their friends is beyond me. stay home, put on the CD and drink the PBR or Natty that you'd normally treat yourself to.

And someone spilled beer on my new converses.

But after seeing the shins at the electric factory last year and having the same kind of horrible crowd, i knew what to expect, honestly, and (sadly) wasn't disappointed in that. aside from the douchefactory product that filled the room, the show was exactly what i wanted. i was able to dance, sing, and be happy. I'm sore today and cant stand up straight and I'm loving every minute of it, because its due to Iron & Wine.

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the set list:
me & Lazarus
God made the automobile
Freedom hangs like Heaven
Summer in Savannah
wolves (song of the shepards dog)
boy with a coin
naked as we came
the sea and the rhythm
big burned hand
half moon
free until they cut me down
cinder & smoke
lions' mane
rabbit will run
house by the sea
woman king
fever dream
tree by the river
***
trapeze swinger was the encore. Sam Beam said "give the people what they want" after several requests for this song were yelled to him.