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Cursive / The Blood Brothers / Criteria

live in Seattle (2003)
Saddle Creek Records

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Contributed by: Katie4213
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Published on October 24th 2003

Cursive, The Blood Brothers AND Criteria . . . what more could I ask for? All three of these bands have released albums this year that have cemented a position in my top ten list for 2003, and to have them play together here in Seattle; needless to say I was stoked. Cursive was actually playing two shows that night. This was the earlier all ages show, the later show, 21 , was to be played with The Jealous Sound, and Seattle’s natives, The Divorce. Although I love The Jealous Sound, there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to see Criteria.

Since two shows were scheduled for the night, Criteria had to start extra early. I made sure to be there as soon as I could, in order to not miss any of their set. For those of you who are not familiar with Criteria, they are a new band headed by Stephen Pederson, former guitarist of Cursive and founder of The White Octave (for a more complete history head on over to the Criteria website). With those two bands under his belt, it is obvious you are dealing with an pretty talented musician. Criteria’s live performance was incredible. Stephen’s emotions on stage are indescribable. Since I have loved their album En Garde since I picked it up, but after seeing their live show, my love has grown exponentially. The live versions of their songs have me listening to the album in a different way. Once you experience Criteria, you will understand. My favorites of the night included The Coincidence, and their closing song, Play on Words.

Seattle’s boys, The Blood Brothers were next. Before I left for school I was able to catch this show when it came through Chicago. Instead of Criteria opening, Murder By Death and Eastern Youth shared the bill. I have to say, I think that the Blood Brothers sounded better in Chicago. There is no doubt the energy was present. Kids were crowd surfing and stage diving left and right. Maybe it was the sound in the Graceland, or maybe the Blood Brother were just having an off night. Standing on the side, it seemed as though their fans thought them perfect. Once they took the stage, the dancing did not stop until after their encore. The majority of their set consisted of songs off their most recent release, Burn Piano Island, Burn. Watching the Blood Brothers on stage, I found myself mesmerized by their drummer, Mark Gajadhar- very talented, and very entertaining to watch. Overall the Blood Brothers were good, but not great.

Now it’s time for Cursive. For those of you who frequent this site, it is not a mystery that Cursive is one of my favorite bands. Actually I have been lucky enough to see them about six times in the past year. I guess it is just being in the right place and the right time. But Friday night at the Graceland, marks one of the best performances I have seen by this band. Although there was no set change between their Seattle and Chicago shows, their Seattle performance out did the Chicago one by far. Everything was completely on. From vocals to instrumentals, I can find nothing to critique. The band’s long and innovative interludes kept the audience on their toes, ready to hear the first familiar chords and begin singing along. They opened with Sierra which quickly lead into The Martyr. Once Cursive had finished their first eleven songs, they left the stage only to return with a three song encore. The second song of their encore was The Casualty off of my personal favorite album, Domestica. Tim was accompanied on vocals with Jordan and Johnny of the Blood Brothers. Their trademark screaming and thrash dancing was a nice twist to the more mellow Cursive stage presence.

Cursive is on the home stretch of their second tour in support of The Ugly Organ. If they are playing close to you go to the show, it will be well worth your time a money.

Cursive’s Set List:
Sierra
The Martyr
Excerpts from Various Notes Strewn Around the Bedroom of April Connolly February 24, 1997
Sink to the Beat
Driftwood: A Fairy Tale
The Lament of Pretty Baby
The Reclusive
A Little Song and Dance
A song off their first 7in (I think the title is Sucker and Dry, but I may be mistaken)
Butcher the Song
Art is Hard

Encore:
Some Red Handed Sleight of Hand
The Casualty
A Gentleman Caller

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jennx (December 7, 2003)

great band - good review

cursive was great in DC

dignin (October 31, 2003)

"Why would a great band like Cursive take out a shitty band like the Blood Brothers???"

Maybe they like their music? Maybe they are friends with them?

I think the real question is why are you posting such stupid questions?

Anonymous (October 30, 2003)

I mean rock!

Anonymous (October 30, 2003)

Saw the show in Chicago also. People unaware of Cursive are just plain ignorant, they fucking rick. Do your homework!

Anonymous (October 30, 2003)

Why would a great band like Cursive take out a shitty band like the Blood Brothers???

Jesse (October 28, 2003)

The Chicago show was amazing. Eastern Youth took the show, Murder By Death ripped shit up, The Blood Brothers killed everyone. I have to admit, I wasn't very impressed by Cursive on stage. They seemed a little bored...

trinket (October 27, 2003)

wow, i guess i wasn't the only one that thought the LA show was horrible

i had seen cursive once before and i thought they were much better the first time, even though i liked the openers much better this time. i loved criteria and i had already loved the jealous sound.

cursive is one of my favorite bands so it was so odd. i was actually bored by them! i walked out mid way through the encore because i couldn't stand there anymore.

burstandbloom (October 27, 2003)

The show in LA was fucking awful. The worst I have ever seen Cursive. The show in SD was great, and the show in Pomona was fucking fantastic. Conor Oberst came out and sang Tim's parts on "The Casualty" and Jenny Lewis came out and sang some on "The Recluse".

Also, The Jealous Sound has to be the worst band ever. I died a little inside everytime they played.

Anonymous (October 27, 2003)

I caught the Lawrence, KS show as well and was very impressed by Cursive (who are one of my favorite bands) and very very impressed with Eastern Youth. I didn't understand a word they said but their music and the emotion their singer displayed while singing was simply beautiful. I own the Cursive/Eastern Youth split but as we all know there is nothing like seeing a band live.

Anonymous (October 26, 2003)

The show in LA was great as well. Much better than last time they came to town.

dignin (October 24, 2003)

everytime ive seen cursive they have played something off their first two records...so there

funkisdead (October 24, 2003)

i fucking love the white octave. isn't that veerd?

skajester (October 24, 2003)

I'd like to see Criteria live. "Thorn Sharp" is currently owning my playlist.

zooyorker (October 24, 2003)

Sorry fella below, that split is not out of print. And is still going for like 10 bucks.

-Anthony

zooyorker (October 24, 2003)

I saw this tour in Lawrence. The Cursive setlist was almost identical to this one. No Criteria for that show, but Eastern Youth did put on one crazy show. Good stuff, and great tour.

-Anthony

Anonymous (October 24, 2003)

i have a silver scooter/cursive out of print split CD-EP. is this worth anything? i used to be really into them.

cobra

jheisel (October 24, 2003)

Wow, it seems like Cursive doesn't play anything off their first two records anymore...which is a shame, because those songs rock.

I still haven't heard The Ugly Organ or the split EP, even though I think I ripped them in January.

dignin (October 24, 2003)

awesome show, it ranks #3 of the cursive shows and #1 for the blood bros. But cursive still out did them. We got a pretty close set list to the one in seattle. Instead of "excerpts...", "the reclusive", and that 7inch song we got the second song off the eastern youth split, "the great decay", and number 4 from the ugly organ

Cursive?s Set List:
Sierra
The Martyr
Excerpts from Various Notes Strewn Around the Bedroom of April Connolly February 24, 1997
Sink to the Beat
Driftwood: A Fairy Tale
The Lament of Pretty Baby
The Reclusive
A Little Song and Dance
A song off their first 7in (I think the title is Sucker and Dry, but I may be mistaken)
Butcher the Song
Art is Hard

Encore:
Some Red Handed Sleight of Hand
The Casualty
A Gentleman Caller

Anonymous (October 24, 2003)

damn, i wish i could have gone. but i went to a show at WWU (in bellingham, WA) that my club put on with United State of Electronica, Dolour, Typical Ace, and Soma Holiday. It was so rad. Katie, you should check out our club's website. We put on lot's of free shows.

-http://www.loarecords.com