Posted by Shane Becker on
<p> Last night I went to a <a href="http://www.tillyandthewall.com/">Tilly and the Wall</a> show. I really, really love this band. I have for about four years now, ever since <a href="http://flickr.com/people/smashysmashy/">Steff</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/steffROCK/">Crashy</a> <a href="http://crashycrashy.blogspot.com/">Crashy</a> gave me four CDs with a couple bands each on them. But for the life of me I couldn't tell you who was on the other CDs. Right out of the gates with "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3jbT6wfMPg">Fell Down the Stairs</a>" they blew me away. I was hooked. Each record is just better and better. They're one of those bands for me. Few are. <a href="http://www.availavail.com/">Avail</a>, <a href="http://savestheday.com/">Saves the Day</a>, <a href="http://www.againstme.net">Against Me</a>, <a href="http://www.sleater-kinney.com/">Sleater-Kinney</a>. </p>
<p>I don't really go to shows anymore. The last one was <a href="http://www.last.fm/event/130383" title="Saves the Day at Neumo's (Seattle) on 17 Apr 2007 – Last.fm">Saves the Day</a> with <a href="http://elisfanclub.com/" title="elisfanclub">Eli</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/worstdukeever" title="Twitter / worstdukeever">Hannah</a> over a year ago. I just happened to stumble across this one in <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/" title="The Stranger - Seattle's Only Newspaper">the paper</a> the last week at work. And I almost didn't go. I sure am glad I didn't not go*.</p>
<p>First band, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/elephantkiss" title="MySpace.com - Elephant Kiss? - SEATTLE, Washington - Surf / New Wave / Glam - www.myspace.com/elephantkiss">Elephant Kiss</a>, was super annoying. Their like a bad meme. Second band, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/birdwatchers" title="MySpace.com - birdwatchers united! - seattle, US - Pop / Pop / Pop - www.myspace.com/birdwatchers">Bird Watchers United</a>, was pretty alright. They got me be-bopping a bit. Oh yeah, there was like 30 minutes between bands. What's that about?</p>
<p>But then Tilly came on. It didn't matter that I didn't know anyone there or that hardly anyone else was dancing. In fact, <em>nothing</em> else mattered. I felt like I used to at shows. Like they were magic. Screaming these words like our lives depended on it.</p>
<p>They played a phenomenal set. Then a three song encore which ended with their song "Night of the Living Dead". The final words of the song are: "I wanna fuck it up. And I feel so alive." Over and over. In that moment, truer words did not exist.</p>
<p>Of course, recordings of any kind don't replace actually being there, but here is a video of them playing "Night of the Living Dead" at some other show. That's kind of what it was like last night.</p>
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XtVN3fSaHCA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>Here's a few other videos for extra credit:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd3G3i0QBq0" title="YouTube - Tilly & The Wall, Beat Control Music Video">Beat Control</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KirTaMHAUG0" title='YouTube - Tilly and the Wall "sings songs along" video'>Sings Songs Along</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgA-dJ9imVk" title="YouTube - Tilly and the Wall on Letterman!">Bad Education live on Letterman</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7HjBr_QMXI" title="YouTube - Tilly & the Wall - Pot Kettle Black">Pot Kettle Black</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyIfrGMUGQI" title="YouTube - Tilly And The Wall - Kiss Off">Kiss Off (Violent Femmes Cover) on some radio show</a></li>
</ul>
<p>That is some kind of heckafied grammar. Heckafied.</p>