Am I wearing a sign that says kick me?

BRRRR!! Only for music will I suffer extreme weather conditions: ACL Fest I waited 7 hrs for a great spot to see (and touch) Chris Martin &Co. in blazing 108 degree heat!!!, the week of Thanksgiving I sat on a frigid sidewalk in midtown Manhattan for 6.5 hours in order to get front row on the ellipse at the U2 Vertigo Tour at Madison Square Garden, and last night I stood outside in 27 degree freezing rain at Emo's to see Nada Surf only to get bruised by the people around me. The show rocked -- rocked way harder than last year's SXSW show at Red Eye. Last year I was front and center right between the lead singer and bass player. But this time I still had a good view of the band (when I wasn't getting knocked over by the obnoxious drunk-asses surrounding me).

With the cold weather and and outdoors show I was sure they would play Blizzard of '77 -- and I guess everyone else was hoping they would too -- that was the only thing people were chanting out requests for. They opened with Hi Speed Soul, one of my faves off the "Let Go" album. It was so energetic and fun, a great start. Other favorites they played in the evening - Fruit Fly, Happy Kid, Inside of Love, Blond on Blond. They do a great job balancing the fast and slow songs in their set lists. Fruit Fly stood out to me this time -- its really quiet in the beginning -- they had an a capella sing along for the intro -- then it busts out into the great beat. I love watching Daniel, the bassist on these kinds of songs. He's like Heath Ledger with super long dreads and he's always bouncing to the music and singing with a cigarette hanging on his lip. The epitome of rock star. They also played a lot from the new album "the Weight is a gift", which I don't have yet, but will be getting soon. Great continuation of where Let Go left off.

They are touring with Rogue Wave, a new interest of mine. After seeing they were touring with Nada Surf, I looked into them on iTunes and Myspace and was intrigued. I didnt buy anything bc I wanted to wait until after the show to make sure, but I'm convinced now that its worth it. I felt like I made eye contact with the lead singer 2 or 3 times but I can't be sure of that. He was wearing a hat like Danny from the Real World -- made me giggle. Publish My Love and California were pretty awesome - lucky for you they are both on myspace, so check em out.

Overall great music and great performances -- I just wish I had been standing in a different place to enjoy it more.