I was in San Diego for the weekend visiting an old friend. When I was glancing through Two Sheds’ (myspace) tour schedule, I saw a date down there for the weekend that I was going. As anyone who knows me or reads my blog can attest, I’m basically evangelical about the band–I think they’re great–so I decided to go to that show and drag my old friend and Natalie along for good measure.

Bar Pink Elephant has that classy-old-school vibe to it, like it might have been the place to go in the 50s. From when I got there it rapidly filled with a crowd of people, most of whom just seemed to be there just to be at a bar, not for the band. The stage area was off in one corner, a scant 6″ rise above the rest of the floor. They ran the drums and amps un-miced, with only the vocals (and the vibes, in the case of the opener) mic-ed. One of the speaker out in the crowd was pointed back toward the stage slightly and I guess that was the monitor too. Despite the limitations, the sound was pretty decent.

The opener started out alright, but with each further song, I felt the word “emo” was more apt a description–and not in the sort of warm-feeling college nostalgia way.

Two Sheds went on just before midnight. They put on a good set with solid versions of “Mama” and “Undertow” in there. They played “It’s Hard” after I’d shouted it out during one of their on-stage band conferences. After their set ended there were shouts for “one more song” so they decided to play one, to the awkward realization that their drummer had gone to the restroom.

After a couple minute break they went into an off-the-cuff version of “Psycho Killer” (which you can hear if you buy their album) accompanied by Caitlin saying “I don’t remember the chords”, (figuring them out,) and “I got it now!”. The band had obviously not rehearsed it and it teetered on the edge of falling apart, but they kept it together and the spontaneity was refreshing. They went into slow breakdown near the end led by their drummer that was pure improvisation (and pure brilliance). It just put a smile on my face.

Two Sheds has an iTunes EP out tomorrow May 6. I’m going to snap that bad boy up in record time. Also, be sure to tune in at 9pm on May 21st when I host the band on the air.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 4:36 pm Posted by adrian in SF bay area, live review, photos. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.