Sloan

This was my first Sloan show, and it totally rocked. The guys seemed to be having a lot of fun on (the admittedly tiny) stage, and the crowd was super into it, singing along on a couple of songs (I couldn't quite tell how often, as I had earplugs in). Kung-Fu Necktie is a ridiculously small venue, so there was a real sense of connection between the band and the crowd. The set list was basically the same one they've been playing at most of their shows this tour, though they winged "G Turns To D" in the encore to great effect — I didn't notice a single wrong note! "Gimme That," "Money City Maniacs," "She's Slowing Down Again," "Losing California," and "Everything You've Done Wrong/Who Taught You To Live Live That" (seamlessly transitioned) were the highlights of the show.

What really sealed the deal, though, was just how accessible the band was after the set. For what must have been an hour and a half after they finished up, my family (my parents are recently converted Sloan fans) and I hung out with Chris and Jay, talking about music and more. I managed to chat a little with Patrick, Andrew, and Gregory as well, but they didn't really stick around as long as the other two guys. Oh, and Jay told me the tuning, capo, and some of the chords to "Green Gardens, Cold Montreal," which I've now proceeded to learn!

Finally, Hot Kid was, despite my slight skepticism before the show, pretty damn good. Shiloh and Rob had a ton of energy and a really full sound despite being just a two-piece band.