song performed: “She’s My Ride Home” from the album Foiled
conan’s reaction: “*at the end of the performance, guitarist/violinist ryan runs of the stage to the left* nice job that was great. hey, very nice job *shakes lead singer justin’s hand* thank you very much, guys *shakes bassist matt’s hand* that was great *shakes other guitar man brant’s hand* blue october everybody, we’ll take a break, we’ll be right back *claps hands twice turns to shake drummer hand, ryan comes back onstage and conan shakes his hand too*”
I figured it out late last night that this week on Conan is a mishmosh of repeat shows and new ones. The jokes tipped me off - references were too recent. So imagine my surprise when blue october popped onstage. I thought I was missing something again.
the band: i don’t know blue october from adam, even though it seems they’ve been around since 1995-96. love to keep an open mind here, and I know their latest record went platinum, but my first impressions of them are that they are more of a regional hit. i’ve listened to a few of their songs, and they are beautiful with violin and peter gabriel-like harmonies. the problem i’m having is that every song sounds like the track for an Intel or Infiniti commercial…from 1996. kind of sappy and mysterious like you wouldn’t want your daughters hanging out with mysterious.
the performance: the stage started out with a blue/magenta lighting which, and maybe it’s my fake tivo, but the sharpness was thrown was out of whack (or the camera was out of focus). i notice this blue tinge adds this strange blurriness.
it’s a beautiful song they played, but again, things felt weird to me. i don’t know this sound or this image. it’s like having beets with my fries or white air force 1’s with orange shoelaces. i admit i don’t listen to “modern” radio at all anymore, and i know the Canadian papers have been writing a lot about these gentlemen as a “modern” rock group. song opened all pretty, lead singer justin started out fumbling for the mic, then went into this weird motion for sharpening a knife, followed by a weird head nod and a quick brushing motion of his hands and from then on I was more interested in catching highlights from tonight’s stanley cup games.
and just as I was starting to wonder when the violin was going to come out - there it was for the a bit. again, the performance was fine with interesting lyrics, theatrics, and haircuts. but in my head it is like a conversation about deep dark love secrets when all I wanted was to know how much postage is needed on my tax return. in other words, they seem like a group you have leap into to fully enjoy, and leap some people will.
other notes: I’m proud of myself for not mentioning hurricane katrina and how this band is from houston and are a band of hope. oops I just did. damn this mgoc blows.
