lydia performing a new (untitled) song at walter’s on washington on 9-18-2009

any of you who have been around since last year’s list probably remembers me having illuminate wayyyy up in my top albums of 08, so i was pretty excited about catching a headline set. this was also the last show i’d personally be attending at walter’s on washington, one of my favorite venues in houston. shows are always intimate here and the venue will be missed.

anyways, i also got the chance to interview the dudes in all the day holiday, so look out for that in a few days. recap after the jump.

-grizzly

lydia performing “it’s in your blood” at walter’s on washington on 9-18-2009

this would be the second time i would be catching an all the day holiday set in a month’s time, thanks in huge part to the moving mountains tour. the band really sold me the first go around, especially with their drummer’s particularly interesting drum set up. they don’t tour with a keyboardist, so they play to a very atmospheric back track, but that’s hardly something to hate on. the band is tight-knit and plays shows like they’ve been going strong for years, even though they’re currently touring in support of their debut record, the things we’ve grown to love.

they’re a great group of guys and gave us a good interview, so nothing but love to the band.

lydia performing “i woke up near the sea” at walter’s on washington on 9-18-2009

um, well next up was playradioplay. i got wind that he will be playing under a new moniker soon, analog rebellion. who has two thumbs and hates that band? this guy. i swear, every song sounded the same. and am i retarded, or did this guy not play autotuned-bleep-blip-pop a little over a year ago? nothing against that, but at the same time, why does he have a shirt that says “fuck autotune” on it? i dunno, i just think it’s ridiculous.

also, he has the most awful drummer. not only was he generic, but he played like he was playing in converge. the wrist action was all wrong, buddy. carpal tunnel is a real affliction and is in your near future. please visit your nearest music school and get lessons. i think the lead singer’s (is it daniel?) a nice guy. i mean, i ran into him in the bathroom and he was a nice guy. i just don’t like his incredibly gimmicky music. and please get a bassist.

lydia performing “this is twice now” at walter’s on washington on 9-18-2009

lydia finally came on. not gonna lie – intially i was pretty disappointed. i mean, they sounded great, but they really lacked that punch or urgency that you get from listening to their music. regardless, their set was fantastic and they played a good amount of songs from both records.

i will note that their stage exit is one of the coolest i’ve ever seen in my life. as the last song was playing the band off, each member left the stage one by one, leaving some sort of void in the musical soundscape until there was no one but leighton left. very flawlessly executed, i might add.

the band came out and encored with a new song (first video) and also decided to give the crowd a vote between “december” (personal favorite) and “always move fast.” apparently i was the only one who voted for “december.” boo. great show, but a bit too sad for a final hurrah at walter’s. the vodka and exhaustion didn’t help either.

p.s. mindy – marry me!

———————————————————
[setlists]

LYDIA:

sleep well
smile, you’ve won
this is twice now (video)
a fine evening for a rogue
hospital
it’s in your blood (video)
all i see
instrumental jam
i woke up near the sea (video)
one more day
ha…it got pretty bad
the one you once loved was leaving

encore:
new song (video)
always move fast

ALL THE DAY HOLIDAY:

la voyage
autumn
cheers (you still love me)
real time
2000 winters
all the things we’ve grown to love
cities
———————————————————

check the rest of the illuminate tour dates.

lydia on myspace.

all the day holiday on myspace.

thanks for reading.

-grizzly