Friday night at Middle of the Map

Thoughts from Friday night at Middle of the Map:

– Many more small-scale shows, fewer of the blow-out parties of last year. Even Iceage and Jeff the Brotherhood back-to-back at the Riot Room wasn’t nearly as crazy as Fucked Up / Coalesce the year before.
– Speaking of Iceage: holy shit. A total clusterfuck mess. Far more entertaining than their show at the Jackpot, though. Honestly, they could’ve played “Ecstacy” over and over for the half hour they were on stage, and I would’ve been happy.
Not A Planet has half a set that sounds like Kara’s Flowers, which I really enjoyed, and another half of a set that sounds like the White Stripes, which I didn’t care for. Good pipes on that singer, though.
– If ever there were a band which i didn’t understand, it would be the Joy Formidable. Their drummer was all crash and bang. They’re essentially a less-dynamic Yeah Yeah Yeahs, or a band that listened to a lot of My Bloody Valentine, only to get the roar and none of the subtleties. There must’ve been a reason the Uptown was packed for their set, but I can’t figure out why. Everyone couldn’t’ve been waiting for Grizzly Bear.
Grizzly Bear was amazing. Words can do no justice, and I think the images (complete with weird moving flaming jellyfish-style lights) do more to evoke what was taking place on that Uptown stage than anything I could write. They were just beautiful.