If you listen to the UK press then the Stokes are the greatest band since.. umm... the last mediocre band that were hyped beyond belief. I'm trying to listen to the album and ignoring all that crap in the press but it's hard. Even the Stone Roses debut album wouldn't be able to live up to the hype that 'Is This It' is getting.

Starsailor
August 28, 2001
Troubadour

The show was sold out and I didn't bother to buy a ticket even though it was on sale for weeks. For a show that was only ten bucks, I was wondering how much the scalpers were going to be asking. I ask a guy standing by the Will Call window if he has an extra ticket, he hands it over and before I can ask how much, he already turned around. I say, "Thanks!" and just like that, I'm in Starsailor's first American show, correction, first headlining American show.

Charlatans w/ B.R.M.C.
El Rey, Los Angeles
Wednesday, July 24, 2001

I lost count, I think I've seen the Charlatans over 6 times going back to their mind-blowing performance at the Palladium in 1992. I wasn't too excited about this gig because over the years the Charlatans have been putting out substandard records. Their first couple of albums were great with a few bad songs, but now they've been reduced to bad albums with some great songs. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club was opening and that was enough for me to go.

Air
Mayan Theatre, Los Angeles
Wednesday, July 11, 2001

I've never seen Air before so when tickets went on sale for forty bucks (thirty plus ten for ticketmaster), I didn't really hesistate. I'm subscribed to the Astralwerks newsletter and there are little reports about how great the tour is going and how everyone is in love with Air right now. Well, that was all a bunch of hype, I wish I would've never read that because my expectations were high enough.

Radiohead / Beta Band
June 20, 2001
Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver, CO

A lot of people were asking me, "So why are you going to Denver for your vacation?" And I would feel like a music-dork for saying, "A Radiohead show at Red Rocks". Lucky for me that my best-friend happens to live in Denver which gives me the perfect excuse.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
4100 Club, Los Angeles
Sunday, June 10, 2001

This was a free show on Sunday night and I was torn between going to this or Mogwai at the El Rey. Mogwai's gonna play San Diego in a few days so I'm covered there, I've never seen BRMC and I love the album. I was kinda worried cause I've never been to the 4100 club or "Detour" as it was previously called. Finding it was a breeze and I was expecting a line but there were just a few people hanging out outside, so I just cruised on in.