I’ve been to a bunch of concerts this weekend: Mastodon, Tapes N Tapes, and Pretty Girls Make Graves.

All great shows… There’s no way I could pick a favorite.

Mastodon was totally brutal (read: hardcore, not shitty). Halfway through, I expected to see them sacrafice a goat on stage. I jumped in the mosh pit and was promptly reminded by an elbow to the face that I’m no longer 17. I walked out of the show soaked in sweat (the majority of which was not my own) and I loved every second of it.

Tapes N Tapes generated climactic walls of sound that crashed violently, and then gently washed over the audience as it withdrew. Perhaps I’m taking this metaphor too far, but I loved the ebb and flow… constantly changing volume dynamics.

The new songs that Tapes N Tapes played were incredible. I don’t remember the song titles they called out, but I’m really excited about their next album now. The Loon, their latest album, was released 18 months ago, so I think a new album will come sooner rather than later.

Pretty Girls Make Graves is currently running across the states on their fairwell tour. I’ve been a fan since freshman year of college, yet this is the first (and due to their breakup, the last) chance I had to see them live. They unleased hooks so addictive and sticky, they make cocaine look like pixy sticks. I’m still humming a few of the trickier riffs in my head; they grab hold and don’t let go.

The Pretty Girls Make Graves show was my first show at the Gramercy Theater. This is my new favorite venue, easily the best venue in the city. The acoustivcs are excellent in every nook in the room, and the stadium seating is great for lounging through the openers, while the floor provides ample room for rabid fans of the main act. I’d go back there just for the venue, regardless of who’s playing (ok… Maybe not Matchbox 20).

It was a marathon of great music… I should do this more often.

Here are Hype Machine searches for the bands in this post if you want a sample of the music I saw.
Pretty Girls Make Graves on the Hype Machine.
Tapes N Tapes on the Hype Machine.
Mastodon on the Hype Machine.

Or just listen to this playlist: