this imploding heart

Happy Birthday, NSALAZAR!

Oh man, you guys missed it. We had a great time at the ol' Derb last night.

First, Matt Fu played as 1985. I've had the pleasure of seeing Matt play in different incarnations for several years now, and I really enjoy watching his songwriting style develop. It looks as though Matt may never cause me to shake my ass, but you can't say enough about the benefits of slow dances. I was particularly pleased to hear him really open up his voice and sing BIG this time. I think it gives his sweet and beautiful songs a shot of pizzaz.

Second, my socks were totally knocked off by Jack Saturn's killer pop numbers. A little vocally reminiscent of Belle and Sebastian, Jack as The Online Romance played a sweet and toe-tappy but don't-miss-a-word set. Tim wasn't kidding when he said you should check out those MP3s. Jack was a big crowd pleaser, and a damn nice guy.

Tim as Circus of the Stars wrapped things up nicely, closing out the tour with a mix of favorites, old and new. Hearing Tim play is always extremely nostalgic for me, as his music was a big part of the first 2 years of my life in Seattle; not only the music he created himself, but all the bands and styles he introduced me to. Like Matt, I've had the pleasure of watching Tim's music change and grow over a few years, so it was really fun to hear things I was familiar with in an infantile form realized with a few years of practice and refinement backing them up. Crisper guitar and clearer vocals. It was great! Not to mention the last minute addition of the recently wed Rick on Banjo, which always makes the ladies melt.

Take note people. Banjos make ladies melt.