Silversun Pickups/Dandy Warhols/Matt & Kim, November 3 at the Gibson Amphitheater

I was minority obsessed with the Silversun Pickups for most of the year (including awarding their Swoon my #2 of the year) and seeing their hometown show was a given (despite that I had not seen them before in L.A. proper). The tickets were (relatively) cheap ($30 before Ticketmaster fees) and there were other bands included in that as well. I got my own ticket and got a pit-seat, which I thought was lucky but apparently it was pretty easy to get such a ticket for the show. The show was heavily advertised up to the day (in the Weekly, at least, so it was visible to me but the newspaper also sponsored the show) and it didn't even sell out (and it was probably so advertised because it didn't. If it had sold out they could have stopped their advertising campaign). Part of the amphitheater was actually sectioned-off, which I'd never seen before. Apparently the Silversuns can't sell out 5,000 seats even in their hometown and with a half-dozen other bands in the line-up. I got there in time to miss Dengue Fever but I saw Matt & Kim, a bundle of energy and confetti on a stage completely empty except for them and their drum kit and keyboard, and who invited everyone down to the pit, which was probably hell for security to get them out of there when they were done (not that the entire audience couldn't have fit in the pit anyway). I had a seat and ate popcorn then went to the pit, which was about 80% empty and probably only got about half-full at the peak of the night. The Dandy Warhols seemed to be an odd pairing with the rock professionals of the Silversuns but they came on cool and focused, a departure from being the shambling, disorganized -- but brilliant -- mess I've seen them be in the past. The druggie-slacker vibe is a little sad now that they're all close to their 40s but they've stayed together anyway and now they rely on their songs, focusing that night, at least on, ...Come Down (as they should). Zia looked sexy as usual, all in a black jumpsuit and looking like a spy. They're still an opening band even after all these years or just better headlining a club or playing halfway up the bill at a festival. The Silversuns are where it's at, exploding onto the stage in fuzz guitars, a heavy bass, and a drummer going crazy with a cymbal that's about 10 feet up (which can't be easy but looks kinda cool). The Silversuns have been great and consistent enough that they've gone far beyond the lazy Smashing Pumpkins comparisons (though the Pumpkins not putting up a fight makes that easy) and now they just concentrate on rocking out. It was firm set, starting strong, but no surprises, except for "Kissing Familes," which I've seen them do every time and it should be expected by now but I'm always excited and shocked and amazed and surprised when they play it. Brian is still a bit of a shy frontman but when they rock as hard as they do, they can leave banter and desperate charm for bands who don't have the volume.

The Silversun Pickups set-list:
“Growing Old Is Getting Old“
“Well Thought Out Twinkles“
“Sort Of“
“There's No Secrets This Year“
“The Royal We“
“Little Lover's So Polite“
“It's Nice To Know You Work Alone“
“Future Foe Scenarios“
“Kissing Families“
“Catch and Release“
“Panic Switch“
“Lazy Eye“

“Substitution“
“Creation Lake“
“Common Reactor“