Kate Nash/The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players @ The Trocadero

I am a tad bit embarrassed that I'm obsessing over Kate Nash and her music. This is my 30th mention of the lass for the U.K. in a post in 13 months and I think I'm done until she comes out with album No. 2.

There are many reasons why I'm checking her out live for the fifth time. Now that she's out there and she has a devout fan base, I wanted to see her in a bigger setting with a crowd who's just as into her music as I am. Then, since this is her Philly debut, it's always interesting to see someone you're familiar with in a different location. Also, she's been trotting out some new tunes. Two of them are just incredible -- more mature sounding songs that could lead to some real interesting directions for the 20-year old.

I'm 100% glad I went because it was a different show from the previous times. There were more backing musicians and a more energetic Kate.

The setlist:

• Pumpkin Soup
• Shit Song
• Stitching Leggings
• We Get On
• Birds
• Nicest Thing
• Seagulls
• Dickhead
• Do Was Do
• Pick Pocket
• Paris
• Skeleton Song
• Mariella
• Mouthwash
• Foundations
• Don't You Want To Share the Guilt
• Punk Song
• Merry Happy

She played for 90 minutes straight, an epic considering her previous gigs were done within an hour. As you can see, there are a handful of new tunes. "Don't You Want To Share the Guilt," a B-side from the "Merry Happy" 7", is brilliant. It's her version of a Broken Social Scene song, where it builds and builds and the vocals get more angry and defiant. She then stops singing and it becomes more of a stream of consciousness. In this song, she drops writing from a child-like perspective, and instead comes from a more adult sounding voice. Good times

The other out-of-character song is called "Punk Song" for now. It's her indulging in the rock star side of her persoanlity that's been wanting to get out. She screams over and over, "No, I don't want to touch it." I think that's what she's signing. It's like an early Bikini Kill song, where she steps out from the piano and guitar and she jumps around the stage, throwing a tantrum. It's a crowd pleasurer and I'm glad to see that's willing to try new directions. You have to remember that her first single, "Caroline's a Victim," was dirty-synth with heavy beat tracks and most of the songs on Made of Bricks are singer-songwriter tunes with the occasion big pop song.

Some of the other new tracks, "Paris" and 'Pick Pocket" were similar in vein to the songs on Made of Bricks. "Do Was Do" is a take-off on "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" by Manfred Mann that a bratty rant on some bitch. You tell her, Kate.

One of the great things about following music is you get to see acts evolve from playing in front of a hundred people to about 1,000 a few months later when when word gets around to how good they are. With Nash, her bigger shows required a bigger band sound, so it's definitely more of "rock" show. Although, making her debut in Philly, it took her a while for her to loosen-up. It took about five or six songs until she was able to joke around and comment on her day. After that, she was pounding away on her piano.

She pointed out that she had her first Philly cheesesteak at Jim's on South St, although she said Joe's. Then she did what all tourists do in Philly -- run up the Art Museum steps like Rocky. That would have been one heck of a YouTube clip.

During the weekend, she played a free show at the World Music Cafe at the WXPN studio and ushered in Record Store Day at Main St. Music in Manayunk. I wanted to acknowledge Record Store Day with Regina Spektor at Southfix, but The Pope was blocking traffic in New York. I got a flat tire, anyway. When I fixed my flat, I was going to see Nada Surf at Vintage Vinyl, but I locked my keys in my car (first time in 15 years). Anyway, keep record stores alive.

So with all the good stuff out of the way, I was hoping the Philly crowd would show much love for The Nash. To be honest, the floor was all filled with chatty 13-year olds who don't know how to shut-up during quiet songs. Even Kate asked the crowd to be quiet, but a bunch of spoiled teeny-boppers near me felt obligated to yell into their cell phones, "OMG, Becky. I'm at Kate Nash. Where are you?" Ladies and gentleman, I think we are doomed as a society. Cell phones will be the end of civilization.  To be fair, another group of kids looked at the chatty brats and had that look on their face, "I hate my generation."

Since The Troc is all-ages on the floor (liquor is only served in the balcony), me and my friends felt like complete NARCs. I said to my crew, "I have jackets older than these kids." Then I'm a little embarrassed that I have a lot of enthusiasm for Kate and her music, while by the looks of it, her fan base is mostly 13-year old girls. Yikes.

Okay, this is it for me and The Nash. Enough posts, I think I covered every aspect of her being ... but I still have $1,000 if she likes to play Maxwell's.

Previously:

• Chris meets Kate. Kate wants Chris's autograph. Chris gives Kate cookies. All is good in the world.
• Her U.S. debut at Luna Lounge
• Make a Nash doll
• The crazies come out for her at Bowery Ballroom

For once on these U.S. NME tours, I would like to see an actual British band open up. The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players are on this tour, and I completely understand their appeal. I'm just not going along on the joke. You get the point within a minute of some lo-fi keyboard and drum song with random goofy pictures of old people sitting on a toilet.

An opening act should get you revved up for the main act. Not make you wonder when they are going to be done with their shtick. Jason, the R. Crumb looking father, and his ramblings doesn't get my energy level ready for a rocking good time. The Uncle Floyd meets MTV's Oddville meets Napoleon Dynamite is more suited for a comedy club, not a rock venue. I know they are beloved and have opened for many a fine musician, but Jeffrey Lewis does a much better job of doing what they are trying to do. I'll take him over the Players.

The one thing I was wondering, what if they lost all the slides or the projector breaks? That would be the end to the act.

Comments

[al]

Kate was awesome, I also have to agree with you about the TFSP. most of those kids around us were completely unaware of any of the cultural & historical references made by band.

I wish i could have stayed for the whole show, but I guess i'm too old for the General admission standing concert scene. I'm gonna stick to my whiskey bottle and Diamond Dogs CD.

[Ray]

Dude, agree with you about the chatty kids and the opening act. Do not agree with you on the power of Kate Nash's live presence. She needs a lot of work. I guess if you like her a lot, this show was the non-plus ultra but I liked her album and was disappointed by her live show... a lot. She was not worth the $20 plus $6.50 + $4.00 charges. Definitely not. I hope she gets better at her craft and her songs mature and grow. Right now, they are baby songs. The "punk" song she played was terrible. She needs to get better. Thanks for the review and please stay in New York City.