Augustana (Legends, 4/30)

Background image courtesy fillerwriter's Flickr stream

Augustana delivered a new record to adoring fans on 4/26 while I was in DC (oh yeah, I was in DC all last week). I purchased their self-titled third album Saturday morning and listened frantically all day in preparation for their performance at Notre Dame (I know, right?!) Saturday night.

While I haven't formally listed Augustana among my favorite bands, I've accidentally seen them three times prior to Saturday night's show--2007 in Nashville with the Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows, 2009 with in Chicago with Counting Crows, and 2010 in Milwaukee, again, with Counting Crows. I missed my chance to see them at ND in 2008(?) because I'm an idiot. It's safe to say, my affection has been won (Chicago 6/4 what?).

The album: First thoughts, love songs. Lots of love songs. I'm going to spend some time with this one.

The show: I have NEVER in my LIFE been so close to the band. I've stood in line for many hours to see many shows (ohai, Michael Franti) hugging the rail, but there was NO RAIL…and the stage was hardly above ground level. I didn't grab a setlist or even try to remember the songs, but they opened with a variation on 'Sweet and Low', played 5 or 6 songs off the new album, were forced to play 'Boston' by a crowd of chanting ND undergrads far earlier than I think they meant to, and encored with a CCR tune in the style of Ted Hawkins' 'The Next Hundred Years'.

The part of the show that I loved the most and that will forever change the way I hear 'Steal Your Heart' was being two feet from the single drum used during the drum-y part (I don't know anything about music…). What I do know is that Jared Palomar played with his entire body, one hand pounding out the rhythm with a drum stick, the entire rest of his body exploding with the lights, and the colors, and the sound. Amazing.

The rant: I wish I had been with any other audience for this show. The music was great, the band was great, the audience was completely obnoxious and unworthy. It's been said many times, but these undergrads have the social maturity of high school kids (PS. High school kids get all self-righteous about saving the world, too). At least there's still Chicago…

Oh, I almost forgot, during my Augustana marathon on Saturday, I fell in love with 'Still Ain't Over You'. This is such a Nashville-song, and I am still a Nashville-kind-of-girl…and they played it at the show. :) </fangirl>