The Sea and Cake : Museum of Fine Arts, Boston MA (mp3's too!)

Sea and Cake
Remis Aud, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Ma
Sunday, September 30, 2007

Support - Meg Baird

Living in Mass my 'whole life' somehow the Museum of Fine Arts has never been something I had been to. That is until this year. Back in July I headed there for the first time to catch Tortoise and had just such a great time. The "venue" is quite small, good sight lines and most of all 99% of the people that go to a show there respect music and don't talk during the show. Its perfect, and a perfect setting for Chicago band "Sea and Cake".

After waiting "far too long" in line outside the venue for opener Meg Baird to be ready to perform we were let in. I settled in to my seat about 8 rows back dead center and was ready for it. Meg Baird performed a solo acoustic set that didn't do a whole lot for me personally. Most of all I just wish that acoustic guitar players could realize that they can play up tempo songs. She didn't really say much between songs until a technical difficulty forced her to. She told us the songs she had played (all cover tunes) and that was about it.

The stage is pretty small at the auditorium and Sea and Cake were spread out nicely. Archer Prewitt (guitar) was out setting up his gear before the rest of the band took the stage. The band laid out (as I am facing stage) Lead guitar and vocalist Sam Prekop on the left, Archer in the middle pretty much, seemingly out of place, but none the less STUNNING bassist Eric Claridge off to the right and drummer John McEntire in the back. The band said some quick hellos and launched in to "Up on Crutches" from their latest release "Everybody". The band was tight and focused and the audience ate it up. The band outwardly looks like your every day run of the mill office workers, slightly geeky yet stunningly competent on their instruments. The band has been on break for four years but released this record and are on their second run of shows (at least thru boston).

Although the band is not wildly crazy on stage its hard to choose someone to focus on. Sam had lyrics on poster boards at his feet, referencing them now and again. Archer would get animated now and then but had such a series of foot pedals he was focused on the task at hand. John is in Tortoise as well and many see him as sort of an indie rock god (myself included) and Eric, whom I mentioned seems out of place, as he is a little more heavy set, had a trucker hat on, with a pony tail out the back and he stood like a rock but I haven't seen fingers move on a bass like that in AGES. Such complex bass lines just tossed out there.

The set was a little on the short side, running about 1hr and 10 minutes but it was under $20.00 and the venue is fast becoming a favorite of mine for its selection of artists as well as the fans actually shutting their yaps and silencing their cell phones. Barring the two overzealous fans that were towards the front of the room everyone shared a great moment with Sea and Cake tonight. The guitars have a certain "jangle" to them and the drums are tight and the bass just layers over it all. Bands like this are few and far between matching some pop sensibility with strong playing by the band.

Here is the set list that's your thing.
Up on Crutches
Crossing Line
The Biz
Mr. F
Jacking the Ball
Midtown
Middlenight
Bonus Track
Exact to Me
The Argument
Transparent
Parasol
Leeora
E:
Coconut
???

I tried to take a picture, it came out badly so I put it away.



This is just a picture of the set list.



That being said I decided that I'd upload this show so that you in turn can download the show. So here it is:

**mp3s have been removed 11/2/2007 4:45pm ET***

Up On Crutches
Crossing Line
banter
The Biz
banter
Mr. F
Jacking the Ball
Midtown
tune up
more tune/banter
Middlenight
tune up
banter/its okay to dance
Bonus Track
Exact to Me
The Argument
Transparent
Parasol
Leeora
encore:
Coconut
unknown

A few notes on the list etc.
Why are there so many "banter" tracks? - The band tuned up and when I convert the DAT to CDR the cd recorder views more than 3 seconds of "silence" as a track skip. Rather than remove them from the download they are there so the show flows better..but if you just want to download the songs that works too.

The last song I can't figure out..anyone know what it is? Its none of the left over tracks from the set list etc.

If you are "new" to the band and just want to sample their sound check out Jacking the Ball, then Mr F. Just my suggestion(s).

For you tech geeks - Recorded w/Sony ECM717->Sony D8 DAT @44.1 kHz. Taped dead center about 10 rows back. Don't like mp3's well drop me an email or comment and we can set up perhaps a "trade" of a "lossless" version. Music is here for a few days and will be taken down not only without notice, but at the artist or labels request. If you are one of those folks please drop a note and I'll pull it as soon as I am made aware.

Finally, the bands official site is here. They have a myspace page where you can hear some studio stuff. Also a quick link to a list of their cds on amazon.com that you can purchase.