We said goodbye to 2011 with indie rock’s past and present in one royal showcase joined by Picksysticks,#afterthebreak!
Best Coast and Wanda Jackson at Club NokiaSpecial Guests: The Dusty 45sNew Year’s Eve(12/31/2011)
We were done…wayyyyy done with this years’ adventures. Black Star was it for me. But when Picksysticks invites me to a free concert at Club Nokia for New Year’s Eve with Best Coast and legendary Wanda Jackson, how could I say no?? Couldn’t, so my NYE‘s plans were change. Cheated on my couch with actual fun. Heaven forbid.
Happy I did. The best part was being right next to the stage. For once. Nobody’s giant head obstructing the view. This year, getting to all our shows super early! Makes sense now. Hanging with my blogging mentor was a nice bookend to that chaotic year. Tired to soak it all in. Have a feeling 2012 will be more of the same.
So, enjoy our final B4M Event of 2011. Please excuse the typos and the rest of crap. I was drunk when I wrote this.
==Best Coast==
We have followed Best Coast (Bobb & Bethany) since our inception back in 2010. Love their sound, it reminds me of Jenny Lewis / Rilo Kiley.
My Friends had the opportunity to experience Beth and Bobb a few months ago when they visited San Fran. I remember she had high praise afterwards. Not only that, this would be Picksysticks‘ fourth trip to see them. Is he a stalker? Maybe, but after experiencing Best Coast live…understand why they love and happy this band was the cherry on top of 2011.
We had front row seats, right behind the press pit. So, the pictures couldn’t have come out better. Not perfect. Getting there. Behind us, the whole club was nearly sold out. Many of the fans that came for Best Coast left before Wanda Jackson rang in the new year. Not surprising though. Since I first heard of them, Best Coasthave become quite big in the indie rock blogosphere.
For them to be the sort-of-opener for Wanda, seemed strange but understandable. It was like indie rock’s prince and princess opening for the indie rockabilly queen. Yet, during the break, their niche fans went out to enjoy the night. Were we apart of two different shows? Yeah.
Best Coast celebrated before and during the show with Tequila, Jim Beam, and Nacho chips…wish they would’ve shared…not complaining though. It was a night to celebrate! All the moments between each of their tracks (most of which came from “Crazy For You” LP) made their massive sixteen song set entertaining & unpredictable. Bethany‘s on stage chemistry with her somewhat “Silent Bobb” made me smile every time.
If I had a gun to my head: given a choice between seeing Best Coast live or listening to their records on my IPod. Confidently, no doubt…you need to see them live. Maybe it was the way Bethany looked at me with her sexy eyes and smile? That was part of it, I’m sure. Pity she’s spoken for. Maybe she thought I was Nick Cage. Crazy to assume, but get that a lot.
Nevertheless, they were amazing live! And you need to cop a ticket when they roll into your town. They surpassed their own hype.
Hell, they might even bring you some nachos.
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Best Coast – Set List:
- Wish He Was You
- The End
- Summer Mood
- Crazy For You
- Goodbye
- When I’m With You
- I Want To
- When The Sun Don’t Shine
- Honey
- Our Deal
- Gone Again
- Sun Was High (So Was I)
- When You Wake Up
- In Your Sleep **New Song**
- Boyfriend
- Something In The Way
Wanda Jackson & The Dusty 45s
Sorry, before Saturday, didn’t know what Wanda Jackson‘s past was. Don’t hate me. Didn’t know she was a freaking indie legend. After researching, had one of those “Holy Fucking Shit” moments. No wonder why she was headlining Club Nokia, new year’s eve. You can thank Jack White for dragging this legend out of the chest. She has had recent appearance on Divas Live and current member of the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Did it make for a epic show? Not really, but much respect to the legend. Would’ve preferred to see Wanda in her prime. That didn’t stop the show, heard it finally ended at 2am. My god. Would’ve missed last call. She played it all: from her old to new hits, a few Elvis / Winehouse covers, and the obligatory “Audi Lang Syne” at midnight (joined by her husband).
And you ask, how did she handle the rowdy drunk NYE crowd? Scolded them…publicly. Concert fail for one poor unfortunate soul. Can only imagine if Johnny Cash was alive and some douche did that? Ring of fire would be written on his ass.
Mrs. Jackson loved being in the spotlight, 74 years young and a Libra…makes sense. She kept eyeing my camera, and gave me a few stunning shots. Much thanks!
Before the ‘queen of rockabilly‘ graced us with her presence, her backing Seattle based band — The Dusty 45s — warmed us up with their own take of modern rockabilly. Frontman, Billy Joe Huels, did triple duty singing vocals, jamming on the guitar, and providing the horn section dominating on trumpet.
From what I saw, transformed the futuristic Club Nokia into a ‘high school swingers club’ minus poodle skirts and greasy hair. “Oh Sandy”! Forgot how it is to experience a big band / rockabilly / swing live. High School memories coming back of when I use to watch the modern swing club during my open fifth period. It always gets my feet tapping and head nodding.
I didn’t catch it, but apparently Mr. Huels set his trumpet aflame during Wanda Jackson‘s encore. Talk about a showstopper.
Made me feel like an old man. Don’t worry, saw my fair share of sexy drunk ladies at the hotel bar shortly after. Winning? So, 2000 & late. (lol)
That’s all. Fun way to end 2011. We start 2012 with The Cab. Pictures and stories to come! Until then enjoy our photo slideshow!
Read More with:
- LA Weekly
- America Speaks Ink
- Crazy For Best Coast
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Wanda Jackson – Set List
- Rumble
- Riot in Cell Block #9
- Rock Your Baby
- Ever Since The World Began
- I Gotta Know
- Funnel of Love
- I Betcha My Heart I Love You
- Auld Lang Syne
- Good Rockin’ Tonight
- Heartbreak Hotel
- Shakin’ All Over
- You Know I’m No Good
- Rip It Up
- Like a Baby
- Nervous Breakdown
- Midnight Turning Day Blues (aborted)
- Fujiyama Mama
- Right or Wrong
- Mean Mean Man
- I Saw the Light
- Let’s Have a Party
Encore:
- Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
- Let’s Have a Party (reprise)
- Let’s Have a Party (instrumental outro)