This is one of my all-time favorite bands and I haven’t seen them play in a really long time. On the other hand, I saw them at least 5 or 6 times so I don’t feel any super urgency. They played at a Teenbeat anniversary show a couple years ago and I had too much going on to make it. I’m always ambivalent about reunions, although I got a ticket to see the reunited Dinosaur Jr. in a couple weeks. There was also news today, via pitchfork, that My Bloody F’in’ Valentine are playing some shows in the UK and putting out a new record. Not sure how I feel about that. Part of me wants to go (and I just got an email with flights to London for less than $200 each way!) and part of me is disappointed. Sometimes I am not sure bands should ever get back together. I don’t know what the MBV reunion will consist of but it’s hard to imagine they will get back together and accomplish anything new that they didn’t achieve definitively 15-20 years ago. Hmm.

Versus, though, seem to just be friends (and partly family) who can get back together from time to time just for fun. I would still like to see them again… In the meantime Brad from Bradley’s Almanac has linked to a bunch of youtube videos of the Versus show (they played “We Got the Missiles” !?) and they make me happy even though they are not of the awesomest quality. Too bad Fontaine is so hidden in shadows, I’m still totally crushing on her after all these years…

Here’s a ripping (as always) version of “Morning Glory,” though Richard doesn’t remember the words (he must not have been studying the obsessive website I once made of his lyrics):

I remember seeing them play this song years and years ago and headbanging guys in the audience totally rocking out in thrilled anticipation of the stuttering drumbeat during the verses. Versus fans are a weird lot.

So I am a little in shock as I saw that pitchfork today talked about a one-night-only Shudder to Think reunion show! Amazing! This is the kind of band that I would go to see a reunion show for, because they were such a strange and unique group, and they never performed live much at all after I got into them, and before you knew it, they didn’t really exist anymore. Not sure I could have realistically gone to New York for a Shudder reunion but I am glad those guys are at least on good terms.

Of course I quickly checked youtube for any videos from the performance, and there didn’t seem to be any, but there were some AMAZING Shudder live videos that weren’t up last time I searched for any. I am in awe of youtube member thedesiresymposium and wish I had time to watch all of his/her videos right now (there are lots more late-’80s/early-’90s DC bands).

Check out this radness:

Shudder to Think : Red House / Summertime Train (9:30 Club, 1990):

Speak & Lies About the Sky (9:30 Club, 1992):

Pebbles (Toronto, 1993):

Craig Wedren is playing at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Oct. 13, a Saturday night. I will get back to town from a vacation the night before so I will try to make it. I have looked into his solo stuff before and it seemed decent; also I think he might play some Shudder to Think songs in his solo performances. One of MANY excellent shows coming up this fall.

Stay tuned.

I almost forgot all about this song, but now I want to listen to Temple of the Dog until I fall asleep:

Here’s a nice video of the Books from a couple days ago. It sounds nice, maybe I should have tried to go:

Here’s one (from the same youtube contributor) for Battles a while ago at the Black Cat. Also sounds pretty good, but I think maybe I am getting tired of this kind of music. I sense that I am getting more in the mood for pretty music and also more straightforward metal. You know, like Air Miami and then Slayer. Or something. Anyway here is Battles:

Oh and while I am raiding this dude’s videos, here is one for Xiu Xiu, though this is from Baltimore (I was thinking of going to see them at the Rock and Roll Hotel):

<irony> It’s almost like you don’t have to go to the shows at all anymore, you can just sit around and watch youtube. </irony>

I kind of like the idea because it can be sort of a show diary so that I can actually remember what shows I go to, and maybe a reminder to attend them, and a place to toss up youtube links for the shows I have been to.

We shall see.