Jeremy Messersmith: The Sequel

Last time I went to the Jeremy Messersmith concert, I blogged about it and Peter Sieve, the guitarist in Jeremy's band retweeted it and it made my whole life that day.

Seriously, my whole life.

So, now that I'm reviewing my second Jeremy Messersmith Concert barely four months later, I feel like the pressure is on to write something equally amazing, if not more so.  This reflects how I felt before tonight's show at The Red Room at Cafe 939:  my first Jeremy Messersmith experience was so amazing and wonderful and schoolgirl-esque-giddiness-inducing; what if this one didn't measure up?

Thankfully, that was not the case.

First of all, the venue was amazing.  It was small and intimate, and most importantly, it had couches.  For old souls such as mine, the option of sitting down makes listening to rock music on a school night much less stressful.  The coolest part was that something about the ambiance made me feel just like I was hangin' out at The Bronze.

What accentuated this feeling in my brain (besides my being just a huge Buffy nerd to begin with) was the opening act, Big Scary.  A duo from Australia, they were so great!  They had this amazing ethereal quality to their music, partially because the male and female voices blended so well together.  The woman, by the way, was the drummer, which was just so fantastic.  I watched her through a lot of the pieces and I could tell how much she loved what she was obviously born to do.  I got to chat with her a bit after the show, and she was super nice.

On to Jeremy (I've just decided we're on the first name basis).  Sadly, my phone updated itself and part of the updates include the camera being kind of sucky, so I have no good pictures, but we all know what he looks like.  There were some differences since the last time I saw them.  I believe the drummer got a haircut, for one, and oh yes!  There was a girl on stage!  The keyboardist/backup vocalist had been ill at the last concert but she was there this time.  It was odd at first; I was like "who are you and why are you here?" but I quickly adjusted when keyboard parts would show up and I would think, "now that's what it's supposed to sound like (see below, re: "Knots")."*  All in all, it was great.  Everyone was having fun and the band really connected with the audience and with each other.  Of course, the intimacy of the venue helped, but one still cannot fake being that comfortable and amiable before a crowd of strangers.

Here is the set list with some minor commentary (in probably not the real order because I wasn't a huge nerd who took notes this time):

• "I Don't Trust That Boy to Break Your Heart" (not sure if this is the real title) - This needs to be available for me to download like, now.  So simultaneously cute and clever and sad and beautiful.
• "Tourniquet" - This was their opener last time, so it was kind of strange to have it second, but it was still well done.
• "Lazy Bones" - This song will never stop making me dance like a bobblehead doll.
• "It's Only Dancing" - I can't believe that I forgot about this one!  It's in my top five!  But they played it and it was wonderful.
• "Knots" - It was way cool having keyboards on this song.
• "You'll Only Break His Heart" - I was so convinced that this was going to transition into "Bubbling," like it does on the album, and I got really excited, and then it didn't, and I was disappointed, but only because I love "Bubbling" so much.  
• "I Want to Be Your One Night Stand" - This was probably one of the more fun performances to watch.  Jeremy played with Peter, the guitarist, this time, and they just have such fun chemistry together.  You can tell that they're totally besties in real life.
• "Tatooine" - The first time I heard this live, I didn't remember it.  Now I shall.
• "Scientists" - This song first came into my life after I left a boy I loved to go be a scientist, so needless to say there were some emotions that almost happened.  But hearing it live was wonderful, so it was worth it.
• "A Girl, a Boy, and a Graveyard" - I am cured of this song's ability to make me cry (although it was touch and go coming right after "Scientists"), but I still love it.
• "Call Your Girlfriend" (the Robyn Cover) - I actually had never heard the Robyn version of this song, but I will have to go listen to it now.  I have a feeling I will like the cover version better.
• "Novocaine" - This was actually the first time I had heard this song all the way through.
• "Dillinger's Eyes" - Again, I love how much fun everyone has during this song.  I kind of feel bad for the keyboardist, as she is kind of committed to her location and therefore cannot jam as freely as the guitar holders.
• "Organ Donor" - I will never stop loving this song.  Not until I die and they drain my blood in the mortuary, but even then, my bones will rattle the percussion part.**  My only wish is that they would borrow some random music college string students to accompany them next time they come to Boston (which will be soon, yes?).
• "Heidi" - This may be in my top five favorite Jeremy Messersmith songs.  I want it to change keys and sing it myself (hey, if a man can sing "Steve", I can sing "Heidi").
• "Hitman" - Went nearly deaf again.  Still didn't mind.  
• "Ghost" - I like this song, but it will forevermore be "that song from that Verizon commercial that they always play on Hulu now."
• "Violet" - There was no audience participation this time, probably because nobody was drunk, but it was still great.  This is one of those songs that kind of sneaks up on you with how much you like it.
• "Beautiful Children" - The nearest I came to crying was during this song.  Why do you do this to me, Jeremy?
• "Someday, Someone" - I wish I were as okay about saying the F-word out loud as I am about saying it in my head, because I would proclaim the message of this song to all of my friends when they are sad.
• There was one other song that I hadn't heard before, but I liked it just the same.

The after-the-concert part was fun as well.  I am not the brave sort of person that would ever approach famous people on my own, so I was thankful to have brought my good friend Wayne with me, who is quite good at talking to everyone.  I introduced him to the music (which he loved, bringing to pass giant sighs of relief--it's stressful sharing things you love with your friends!), and he introduced me to the people.  Quid-pro-quo.  Again, they're such nice people!  May they get more famous but never lose their niceness.  Also during the after-bit I grew even more tempted to buy "Reluctant Graveyard" on vinyl...maybe if they come to Boston a third time...?***

I have said it before, and I will say it again:  a year in which Jeremy Messersmith comes to my town twice in six months is a good year.  It was a fabulous concert and an excellent way to start the week. 

*Secret confession time:  as soon as I saw that the keyboardist had a wedding ring, I had this daydream that she would have a baby and have to stop touring and Jeremy would be like, "oh no! where are we going to find another girl who sings and plays piano and knows all my songs?" and then somehow I would be right around the corner and show up to solve all of their problems and also show them some cool harmonies I came up with for a few songs.  I would probably have to develop some stage presence, though, including coming up with some alternative to my bobblehead dance.

**Is that super creepy imagery?  I've been a spooky anatomist for so long that I don't even know what's acceptable anymore.

***I totally would, except it would just make me seem like a huge hipster, and a poser since I don't even have a record player in my possession.  I guess I could play it when I go to my parents' house?