Architecture in Helsinki at FSU

Score one for Tally!

Actually, that’s like score five (but who’s really keeping count?)

Florida State University’s Club Downunder once again trumps UF’s Reitz Union Board in getting great acts to play on campus. Architecture in Helsinki is playing a free (for FSU students) show Friday night at their badass venue located in the student union.

UF, while superior to our Tallahassee neighbors in most respects, fails to keep up with FSU. They have a cool club, we have a ballroom with a makeshift stage.

Now don’t get me wrong, I think the Reitz Union Board does a really good job. And we have had some great acts: Of Montreal, Tilly and the Wall, Cursive and of course the one that beats them all: The Flaming Lips in Flavet Field.

But FSU has had some good contenders as well: The Fiery Furnaces, Of Montreal as well, Mates of State and the one I regret missing the most: The Polyphonic Spree.

I just think we could do much better. Club Downunder seems to have someone cool every other weekend, while we have a good band everyone month. As a result, I’ve probably been to just as many Club Downunder shows as I have to RUB-sponsored UF shows.

So starting this week, I’m going to begin to tally (heh) up which school is more badass in terms of free shows for students.

But for now: Tallyho!

Google fun

I heard that Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter of Stella were coming to town, but had no details of where, when and most importantly, how much. So, I googled. Gainesville + Michael Ian Black (too lazy to type both names) gave me a hit at the alligator. Upon examination, it was some old column by Andrew Meyer. Ha! I love it!

Gainesville feels so small on Google.

Anyway, it’s in Orlando at the Social, $15. Traveling expenses are probably worth it, but I can’t afford to travel right now.

Nada Surf at the Reitz

Because I made a promise to myself that I would see any touring band who happened to have a hit in the 90s, I probably should go see Nada Surf at the Reitz Union on Thursday. I remember jamming along to “Popular” back in my ele-middle years. Now, I know Nada Surf is a legitimate band who has had other albums. And I know their new single, “Always Love,” has been on the radio lately. But I can’t help just wanting to go to hear the rules of dating ala “Popular.”

I hate when people only know a band I like for their one single (which always happens to be their worst song. See: Modest Mouse), but when I do the same thing, I just write it off as nostalgic ignorance. So, is it okay that I want to see this band because they had one hit in the 90s? I will go with yes. But I probably won’t actually attend unless I can convince someone else that this is good enough reason to tag along. Unfortunately Matt has already passed.

Nada Surf will be playing on Thursday at the Rion Ballroom at the Retiz Union at 9:30 p.m. Openers are Seawolf and Emperor X, free for students, doors at 9.

The Fest VI

The Fest 6 is the weekend after next. As pretty much the biggest music-related thing to hit Gainesville every year, I figured it was worth mentioning.

Analysis: Not really worth attending this year, in my opinion. I admit I’m not a big punk/hardcore fan, so I probably shouldn’t even be talking about the Fest in the first place. Regardless, usually there’s one act that sort of appeals to the indie crowd (Mates of State, Ted Leo), but this year, not so much. Hell, Against Me! isn’t even playing.

My picks are Defiance, Ohio, Matt and Kim, Ghost Mice, and This Bike is a Pipe Bomb. Ghost Mice I’ve seen thrice, Defiance, Ohio once, and Matt and Kim once last time they were here, in one of the most fun shows I’ve ever been to.

Let me just say, Ghost Mice shows are some of the best. There’s something to be said for simplicity. With just acoustic guitar, violin and shouty voices, they play a packed, sweaty show of people just yelling along with the music. I’ve never seen a sad face at a Ghost Mice show.

As for Matt and Kim, they attract one dancy crowd. And their on-stage banter is simply hilarious. They probably wouldn’t like to be called “cute,” but it’s just such an accurate adjective.

Now, something tells me these four bands are probably going to be all in one show, which would be neat. I don’t want to pay for a pass, and I’m not sure how buying tickets to individual shows works. But if those four are all neatly wrapped up in one little Sunday package, that would be worth my while.