Two months ago, Phoenix music fans were forced to make a tough concert-going decision for Monday night: Frightened Rabbit, Beach House and Japandroids were all playing in the Valley on the same date at different venues – an example of the annual spillover thanks to our proximity to Coachella. Unfortunately, the choice narrowed over the weekend after Frightened Rabbit was forced to cancel because of grounded flights in the UK due to the spewing ash from the Icelandic volcano.
That set off a domino effect in town: Stateside Presents has since moved Beach House from the previously sold-out Rhythm Room to the larger Clubhouse, where Frightened Rabbit was supposed to play. That means more tickets have become available. (The Middle East, originally opening for Frightened Rabbit, remains on as support for Beach House.) Likewise, Japandroids (with Avi Buffalo opening) have now been moved from The Trunk Space to Rhythm Room.
So with Frightened Rabbit sadly no longer an option – crushing our dreams of that potential laser show – I’ve chosen to check out Japandroids instead of Beach House, a decision some people find questionable. But the duo’s 2009 album Post-Nothing gets heavy rotation, and I’ve been happily spinning my new Art Czars 7-inch that I picked up at Stinkweeds on Record Store Day.
You’re making the right choice, IMO…you’ll have to post how it goes. I’m going to be seeing them in May at Sasquatch and have a feeling they are going to be pretty entertaining.
i enjoy japandroids much better live then i do on cd. they play loud. what?
Just returned my Frightened Rabbit tickets at lunch, and now I will be going to the Japandroids show. I was really looking forward to the FR show, but at least I have a band almost as great to see in their place. And that Art Czar’s 7″ is great.
I’m going to the Beach House show. I promise to write it up if someone promises to grab video of “Young Hearts Spark Fire” tonight. Deal?