Manitoba (A), Four Tet (C), Prefuse 73 (B)

JUNE 6, 2003

This show started out ridiculously strong. Maybe too strong. Manitoba came out and wowed everyone with their music and time-synced videos. They were all wearing identical animal masks (Manitoba's lone gunman brought two compatriats to accompany him) and providing a lot energy. The setup consisted of two drumsets and an everyman, who played guitar or keyboards or whatever was needed. The set was fun and the music was amazing. Easily one of the better shows I've seen.

Four Tet, whose album I absolutely adore, was a little disappointing. It's tough to have a good laptop-rock show. The music was interesting and he put together some nice mixes of songs, especially "As Serious As Your Life," from Rounds. Unfortunately, the crowd was not into it and he could have been a lot more audience friendly.

Prefuse 73 brought us home and they put on a good live show. The set got me jonesin' for a copy of the album, which I still haven't had a chance to pick up. Sometime soon hopefully. Their set might have gotten a higher grade if I hadn't left a little early. Everyone was digging the show, but it felt awkward when they'd have a really catchy break, which would cause everyone to wave their arms in the air, and then it'd all go back down. Maybe that's the nature of these things but it made you wish for the amazing breaks during the still very good set around them.

Posted in Live at 11:25 am.