"WITH ALL YOUR LIES, YOU'RE STILL VERY LOVEABLE"

It’s something else how one great night can redeem so many bad, bland ones; how what were bruise-colored sidewalks are suddenly juicy-brown, how grays go all grandma’s sweater on you.

I saw Black Mountain and Bon Iver tonight at Portland’s Space Gallery. If you’ve been reading this blog, you know I’ve been looking forward to this show for the past few weeks, you know how I’ve been listening to Bon Iver, tattooing the songs on my mind. You know how those songs have gotten me through a lonesome winter. In a single night, all traces of winter were swept away, ‘til I saw it all through a rosy spring-sprinkled spectrum – ‘til loneliness seemed downright altogether muthafuckin’ foreign. (It don’t hurt that it’s getting warmer here. That’s just serendipity.)

It’s not enough that Bon Iver’s songs put shivers in this spine of mine, or that Black Mountain’s grooves put a twitchin’ in my eyelids, a pounding on my chest and a permanent wave in my neck-head. It’s not just that: it’s the sheer pleasure of seeing people do what they really love, what they want to do; and being along for the ride, a part of the crowd, everyone feeding off that pleasure. This is good work, s’all very wonderful - yea, but the best kind of wonderful.

If you get a chance, check them out when they come to your town. Highest recommendation possible.

Black Mountain - 2008 Tour Dates
02/26- Moncton, NB - The Manhattan w/ Bon Iver + Nordic Nomadic
02/27- Halifax, NS - The Marquee Club w/ Bon Iver + Nordic Nomadic
02/29- Montreal, QC - La Sala Rosa w/ Bon Iver + Quest for Fire
03/05- Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace w/ Bon Iver + Quest for Fire
03/06- Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop w/ Bon Iver + Nordic Nomadic
03/07- Louisville, KY - Headliners w/ Bon Iver
03/08- Cincinnati, OH - Southgate House w/ Bon Iver
03/09- Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light w/ Bon Iver + Nordic Nomadic
03/10- Nashville, TN - Exit/In w/ Bon Iver + Nordic Nomadic
03/11- Little Rock, AR - Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack w/ Bon Iver + Nordic Nomadic
03/19- Norman, OK - The Opolis w/ Birds of Avalon + Nordic Nomadic
03/20- Kansas City, MO - Record Bar w/ Birds of Avalon + Nordic Nomadic
03/21- St. Louis, MO - Bluebird w/ Birds of Avalon + Nordic Nomadic
03/22- Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle w/ Birds of Avalon + Nordic Nomadic
03/23- Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon w/ Birds of Avalon + Nordic Nomadic
03/24- Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry w/ Birds of Avalon + Nordic Nomadic
03/25- Fargo, ND - Aquarium w/ Birds of Avalon + Nordic Nomadic
03/27- Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid Cabaret w/ Ladyhawk + Nordic Nomadic
03/28- Regina, SK - The Distrikt w/ Ladyhawk + Nordic Nomadic
03/29- Saskatoon, SK - Amigo's w/ Ladyhawk + Nordic Nomadic
03/31- Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room w/ Ladyhawk + Nordic Nomadic
04/01- Calgary, AB - The Warehouse w/ Ladyhawk + Nordic Nomadic
04/02- Kelowna, BC - Habitat w/ Ladyhawk
04/05- Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom w/ Ladyhawk + Nordic Nomadic
05/09- Camber Sands, UK - Pontins @ ATP vs. Pitchfork Festival
05/10- Camber Sands, UK - Pontins @ ATP vs. Pitchfork Festival
05/11- Camber Sands, UK - Pontins @ ATP vs. Pitchfork Festival
05/15- Brighton, UK - Mojo Stage @ The Great Escape Festival
05/16- Brighton, UK - Mojo Stage @ The Great Escape Festival
05/17- Brighton, UK - Mojo Stage @ The Great Escape Festival

Bon Iver - 2008 Tour Dates
02/26/08 Muncton, NB - The Manhattan w/ Black Mountain + Nordic Nomadic
02/27/08 Halifax, NS - The Marquee Club w/ Black Mountain + Nordic Nomadic
02/29/08 Montreal, QC - La Sala Rosa w/ Black Mountain + Quest for Fire
03/05/08 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace w/ Black Mountain + Quest for Fire
03/06/08 Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop w/ Black Mountain + Nordic Nomadic
03/07/08 Louisville, KY - Headliners w/ Black Mountain
03/08/08 Cincinnati, OH - Southgate House w/ Black Mountain
03/09/08 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light w/ Black Mountain + Nordic Nomadic
03/10/08 Nashville, TN - Exit/In w/ Black Mountain + Nordic Nomadic
03/11/08 Little Rock, AR - Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack w/ Black Mountain + Nordic Nomadic
03/18/08 Tucson, AZ - Plush w/ Phosphorescent
03/19/08 San Diego, CA - Che Cafe w/ Phosphorescent
03/20/08 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo w/ Phosphorescent
03/21/08 Santa Barbara, CA - Muddy Waters w/ Phosphorescent
03/22/08 Visalia, CA - Cellar Door w/ Phosphorescent
03/23/08 San Francisco, CA - The Independent w/ Phosphorescent
03/24/08 Portland, OR - Holocene w/ Phosphorescent
03/25/08 Vancouver, BC - Media Club
03/26/08 Seattle, WA - Nectar



Thanks to the Space Gallery, thanks to Black Mountain (whose guitarist was dead-on when he said, “Sorry we didn't come sooner”), thanks to Bon Iver. Because of y’all, tonight, this city was on my side.

(And thanks, too, to the Brooklyn Vegan [sincerely!] for all their hard work; here’s hoping they don’t mind my jacking those tour dates*! Convenience, y'know.)

*Oh, who are we kidding...