Best of 2008

With the deterioration of the music industry and MTV (R.I.P. TRL) aside, surprisingly, 2008 proved to be an awesome and engaging year for music. I found out about a bunch of great bands and went to some pretty incredible shows. Plus, two NIN albums (for free, no less) in the same year! Sweet! Here's hoping 2009 will be just as amazing.



Best Albums of 2008

20. Alive In Wild Paint- Ceilings
19. Fall Out Boy- Folie A Deux (yeah, hate all you want, but this album has some of the catchiest hooks to date)
18. Oasis- Dig Out Your Soul
17. Nine Inch Nails- The Slip/ Ghosts
16. These Arms Are Snakes- Tail Swallower and Dove
15. MGMT- Oracular Spectacular
14. Wolftron- Flesh & Fear
13. Deerhunter- Microcastle
12. Anthony Green- Avalon
11. Beck- Modern Guilt
10. Coldplay- Viva La Vida

Check Out: Viva La Vida, Violet Hill, Lovers in Japan

9. She & Him- Volume One

Check Out: Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?, Sentimental Heart, You Really Gotta Hold on Me

8. Kaki King- Dreaming of Revenge

Check Out: Life Being What It Is, Bone Chaos in the Castle, Saving Days in a Frozen Head

7. City and Colour- Bring Me Your Love

Check Out: Waiting…, Sleeping Sickness, The Girl

6. Copeland- You Are My Sunshine

Check Out: On the Safest Ledge, The Grey Man, Chin Up

5. Lydia- Illuminate

Check Out: Fate, I Woke Up Near the Sea, Now the One You Once Loved is Leaving

4. Death Cab for Cutie- Narrow Stairs

Check out: Grapevine Fires, Cath, Your New Twin Sized Bed

3. Santogold- Self-titled

Many compare Santogold to M.I.A. (heck, even I did so initially), but I’d like to think that she’s a more fully realized version of her counterpart. If anything, I think the only thing they have in common is their production team and a penchant for the use of electronics, but, overall, their music couldn’t be anymore different. This eclectic crooner cites Devo and Blondie as some of her favorite bands. Santogold has created a genre all on her own, infusing a diverse gamut, from New Wave to Reggae to Ska-Pop. Every time I listen to the album, I always find something new to admire.

Check out: L.E.S Artistes, Creator Vs. Switch & Freq Nasty, Lights Out

2. Thrice- The Alchemy Index: Vol. 3 & 4: Air and Earth

There aren’t enough cries of those who yearn for the days of “Illusion of Safety,” but that era is long gone. The element-themed Alchemy Index was an undertaking of epic proportions. With their 4-disc opus, Thrice experimented to no end, showing their versatility as artists and pulling-off a gallimaufry of sound, from the dramatic electronic echoes of Water to the heavy, passionate screaming of Fire to the raw, gritty folk of Earth. The Air and Earth EPs are a fitting cap-off to their magnificent work of art. Sure, this collection isn’t easy to digest and is not without its pitfalls, but Thrice’s audacity to push any/all musical boundaries and ability to embody various genres is what sets them apart from the bland, predictable, mass-produced imitations of the music industry. The only problem is, where do they go from here? With a project this large, I don’t know how they will ever be able to top it.

Check Out: Silver Wings, Come All You Weary, Broken Lungs

1. Jack's Mannequin- The Glass Passenger

Andrew McMahon has to be one of the most impassioned individuals in the world, and exudes a zeal for life that is unparalleled. I guess surviving cancer will do that to you. His attitude is undeniably infectious. Seriously, I bet anyone within a mile radius of him is bound to carry out a smile. With The Glass Passenger, Andrews bestows upon the listener, even to the most disheartened of individuals, a sense of deeply moving appreciation for life, as each track is spirited and full of vivacity. The album picks up where Everything in Transit left off, with some good-to-honest and contagiously catchy pop songs and poignant piano-ballads. However, the record is an expansion of its predecessor, experimenting with various instrumentation, as displayed through the dreamy track “Annie Use Your Telescope, which incorporates spacious harmonies and floating strings that reaches out to the senses. Hands down, McMahon is the best and most inspirational pop musician out there, and his CD makes you want to just scream from the top of your lungs, “I LOVE LIFE!”

Check Out: Annie Use Your Telescope, Caves, Drop Out/ The So Unknown

Honorable Mentions:
Russian Circles- Station
Atmosphere- When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold
Good Old War- Only Way To Be Alone
Valencia- We All Need A Reason To Believe
Anberlin- New Surrender
Bloc Party- Intimacy
Kings of Leon- Only By the Night
T.V. on the Radio- Dear Science

Guilty Pleasures/Most Fun Albums of 2008:
10. Kanye West- 808's and Heartbreak
9. The Killers- Day & Age
8. The Cab- Whisper War
7. Crystal Castles- Self-titled
6. N.E.R.D.- Seeing Sounds
5. The Ting Tings- We Started Nothing
4. Hit the Lights- Skip School, Start Fights
3. Panic At The Disco- Pretty. Odd.
2. Katy Perry- One of the Boys
1. Flight of the Conchords- Self-titled

Best EPs of 2008:
5. Automatic Loveletter- Recover EP
4. Cinematic Sunrise- A Coloring Storybook and Long-Playing Record
3. Tom Gabel- Heart Burns EP
2. Motion City Soundtrack- Even If It Kills Me EP
1. Versa Emerge- Perceptions

Most Disappointing Albums of 2008:
5. Gym Class Heroes- The Quilt
4. Ben Folds- Way to Normal
3. The Matches- A Band in Hope
2. All-American Rejects - When the World Comes Down
1. Weezer- Red Album

Best Live Show

5. (Mar.20) Explosions in the Sky @ Great American Music Hall
4. (May 25) Thrice w/Pelican and Circa Survive @ The Fillmore
3. (Dec.11) Not So Silent Night 2008 w/Jack’s Mannequin, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers @ Oracle Arena
2. (Nov.2) Jack’s Mannequin w/Eric Hutchinson and Treaty of Paris @ Slim’s
1. (Sep.5) Nine Inch Nails w/Deerhunter @ Oracle Arena

Live 105 Not So Silent Night 2008 @ Oracle Arena- 12/11/2008

12/11/2008, Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

Ah, ‘tis that time of year again where people all over come together in multitude to make merry, sing along to their favorite tunes, and become dazzled by the spectacle of colorful lights.

Yes, I’m talking about Live 105’s annual show Not So Silent Night, which took place on Thursday night (12/11), returning to help spread some holiday cheer and ear-splitting rock. This year’s show proved to be a vast upgrade from last year, upheaving from the traditional Bill Graham Civic Auditorium to the colossal Oracle Arena in Oakland, and boasting an astoundingly impressive line-up. The Killers, Death Cab for Cutie, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, and local band winners Dizzy Ballon performed in front of a sell-out crowd of 15,000.

Though the ticket said the show would start at 6:30, surprisingly, they actually had begun much earlier. By the time we got to our seats, Jack’s Mannequin was well into their set, as my cousin Rainier and I were only able to catch the last three songs. I noticed that the arena was still quite empty as well, which was a shame because Andrew McMahon always puts on a hell of a live show. I was pretty bummed that I didn’t catch the entirety of his performance, but at least he played some favorites as he wrapped up, concluding with “Dark Blue,” “Bruised,” and the positively uplifting tune of “The Resolution.”

Franz Ferdinand followed, and by this time, the arena had filled out more nicely. I must say that I was blown away by the Scottish outfit’s performance. Their set was definitely one of the most fun out of the whole night, as they hopped about in sync with the music, and instilled energy upon the crowd, as the audience livened up to sing and groove along to the danceable rhythms. The band tried out a couple of new songs from their upcoming album. Based off what I heard, not too much of a variation from their distinct sound. They played some classics, such as the seductive ode to that one irresistibly alluring chap that is “Michael” and their breakthrough hit “Take Me Out.” They got the crowd heated up, concluding with the riotously infectious “This Fire.”

After the Franz Ferdinand set, my cousin and I decided to peruse around the venue to see what else Live 105 had in store. Little did I know, they were holding meet and greets with each band, allotted at a particular time. To my chagrin, right when we got to the meet and greet booth, the signing with Jack’s Mannequin was coming to a near close. If there was any artist that I could meet, among all, it would definitely have to be Andrew McMahon. I got in the lengthy line, hoping I could still catch him. Alas, I just missed him, yet again. I decided to just stay in the line for the heck of it, so I could at least meet one band. The line for the Killers elongated quickly, and the wait would be a while, so my cousin and I settled for meeting Franz Ferdinand.
(<-- Andrew getting up-close and personal during signing... and me missing it)

They were some nice blokes. Well, at least the vocalist and guitarist, Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy, were quite friendly. I wasn’t quite sure what to say, since I’m more of a casual fan, so I uttered the conventional: “You were awesome on stage!” and “I’m so excited for the new record!” to which the members expressed their gratitude with nods and smiles. Kapranos especially seemed pleased when I commented about my excitement for the upcoming album, as we chatted for a bit. I was intending to ask one of them what the song “Michael” was about, because I’m honestly curious. But, I chickened out, so Rainier did my bidding. McCarthy, the guitarist, disclosed that it was simply about a boy named “Michael.” I’m sure it was. Not much of an explanation.

As this meet and greet was taking place, Bloc Party took the stage. I was somewhat regretful that I missed the opportunity of seeing them live, since I heard they’re spectacular, but, on the other hand, while I do appreciate their musicality, their tunes just haven’t resonated with me. If anything, the only song I sought to hear was “Helicopter.” Rainier and I got to our seats just in time as they began to play that all-familiar raging riff of the aforementioned. Kele Okereke crooned the stellar line “As if to say, he doesn’t like chocolate,” and that was all I needed to hear. Oh, how I love that line! As the band ended their set and was leaving the stage, Okereke gave an entertaining and revealing show for the crowd, throwing off his shirt and flexing his gleaming guns for all to see.

Death Cab for Cutie subsequently took over the stage, ushering on with “The New Year.” Appearance-wise, Death Cab probably had to be the most of out of place among the others, as nearly all were clad in bookishly dapper attire, sweater-vests, collared shirts and all, appearing like scholarly Professors prepared to give a college lecture. The band did end up schooling the crowd, as they gave an intense performance, filled with immense focus and concentration. Ben Gibbard also had a little moment, acting as instructor disciplining a pupil, or in this case a boorish member of the crowd. As the band played “Long Division,” some dunce tactlessly decided to crowd surf incongruously along to the song, coincidentally enough, a song referencing academia. After finishing the tune, Ben chided something along the lines of, “Crowd surfing is so not cool in 2008. It doesn’t make you cool. It only makes you a DICK!” I wouldn’t have ever guessed that the mild, well-mannered Ben had it in him. Can someone say uber PWNAGE! Later on, the audience hushed as the lights dimmed, and Ben stepped forward, accompanied only by a single spotlight and acoustic guitar at-hand. “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” received a warm welcome, as the audience responded with gleeful cheer. It was a refreshing moment of poignancy and tenderness amidst the raucousness of all the loud, up-tempo numbers that had transpired for a majority of the evening. The crowd watched Ben in awe with cell-phone in hand, as the lights from their screens illuminated the arena. The rest of the band then rejoined with Ben to follow up with “I Will Possess Your Heart”. Bassist Nicholas Harmer, kicked off the song, playing that recognizable gut-wrenching, soul-gripping bass line, as the band proceeded to play the whole mesmerizing intro, creating anticipation, building to a hazy crescendo, culminating as Gibbard commenced to finally vocalize the lyrics. Death Cab was definitely one of the fan favorites of the evening.

The stage-crew began to set up quite an interesting aesthetic on the stage in which the Killers would soon grace. With palm trees galore and a glaze of golden lights, the visuals gave off a Christmas-in-Vegas kind of vibe, very fitting with the gaudy theme of their new album. The look was capped off with a bulky 3ft high lighted “K,” not only providing a delightful visual, but also functioning as a synthesizer. Nifty.

The Killers took the stage in dramatic proportion and began with “Human” off their latest album Day & Age. The band immediately set a brisk tone, as the audience exuberantly chimed along word-for-word to the newly-released single. Brandon Flowers poses a formidable query, “Are we human? Or are we dancer?” It didn’t matter because Flowers imposed the answer himself, compelling the crowd of thousands to get on their feet to excitedly dance along to the sounds of the sparkling synths and fluid melodies. The band kept the momentum going, following with their gender-bending breakthrough single “Somebody Told Me.” Flowers looked like he just stepped out of a GQ cover, with his prettily-quaffed hair and prettily-defined facial features and prettily-slender physique, singing with that pretty little faux-British intonation. Did I mention he was pretty? Perhaps the only thing not so striking, or rather striking in a horrible, train-wreck sort of way, about the handsome front man was his choice of apparel. If you saw the video for “Human,” you know what I’m talking about. He wore this dreadful jacket aligned with bulging shoulder-pads made of feathers. I wonder how many birds were killed to make it. With fashion faux-pas aside, Flowers proved to be quite the charismatic frontman, pacing about the stage with a potent swagger, commandingly acting out to the lyrics, and singing with such conviction and urgency. The band continued on with the set, seamlessly intertwining songs of old and new. The level of crowd participation was extraordinary throughout the performance, as the vigor never seemed to let down, cementing the band’s status as the premier dance-rock ensemble of today. Adamant with sticking to the time constraints, the four-piece group ended their performance all-too-soon, but not without capping off the night with an epic finale, featuring the mind-blowing, rocking anthems of “When You Were Young,” “All These Things That I’ve Done,” and “Mr. Brightside.”

To be honest, going into this concert, I wasn’t much of a fan of The Killers, due in large part to their rock-star narcissism, arrogant bravado, and tawdry decadence of sound… all the kinds of things that irk me about “big” rock bands. However, after this show, I totally got it. Those elements are what make The Killers great, and it is that extravagance, which places their live show to preeminent heights.

Setlists:

Death Cab for Cutie
-The New Year
-We Laugh Indoors
-Crooked Teeth
-Long Division
-Soul Meets Body
-I Will Follow You Into the Dark
-I Will Possess Your Heart
-Cath...
-The Sound of Settling

The Killers
-Human
-Somebody Told Me
-Losing Touch
-Spaceman
-Bones
-Smile Like You Mean It
-Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
-Shadowplay
-Neon Tiger
-Read My Mind
-When You Were Young
-All These Things That I've Done
-Mr. Brightside

Greetings

Salutations my fellow blog-viewers!

The name is J.R. ROFLCOPTER, and this is my deliciously sugary confection of a blog. Now, this isn't just any other blog. This blog is about music. Now, you might say, "A blog about music? That's not very original." And you, sir, are correct! But what makes this blog different is that it is the most awesomely ROFLEST thing you will ever get to experience in your whole entire life.

Alright, I might've over-exaggerated. Sincerely, though, I'm just someone who enjoys music, and has the urge to express my feelings, or rather burning hot (and sexay!) passion, towards music in all its magnitude. I'm sure music is an integral part of everybody's lives, which is no different with me. Music is a sheer force of emotion, having the power to change minds and hearts, transcending even life (even the most crappiest of lives) itself.

I like all kinds of music: hip-hop, R&B, alternative, ambient, experimental, folk, classical, classic rock, progressive rock, pop, punk, pop-punk, indie, dance, electronic, hardcore, post-hardcore, post-rock, pretty much anything post- or -core, and on and on. I don't hate or discriminate, well, except maybe when it comes to country. Other than that, I welcome all music with open arms (at least I really try to). I love, love, LOVE going to concerts, and I try to go to as many as I can. There's no better high than experiencing music right in front of you. I can sort of play the guitar...not very well. I know a few chords and scales, here and there. I'm absolutely excellent when it comes to playing the riff for "Smoke on the Water." Just ask me to play it, and I will do it on command, inducing you to ROFL your pants right then and there.

To be honest, I don't exactly know where I'm going with this blog, since this is my first feeble attempt within the blogosphere, but I can promise you a ROFL-fest of entries. I plan to provide you with a hodgepodge of album reviews, concert reviews, setlists, recommendations, videos, downloads (once I figure how to do it), up-to-date news and information, and just a galore of entries about anything having to do with music. I'm not the best writer, nor do I know much about music, when it comes to structure, theory, and all that mumbo jumbo, but I can give you some honest-to-goodness insight about a subject near and dear to my heart. This blog is by no means pretentious, elitist, or exclusionary. It's all about appreciating music for what it is and in all it's splendor, and just having some good-old fashioned fun with it. Also, with this blog I hope to learn all that I can in order to become a better writer in order to convey information as clearly and unabashedly to you as I possibly can, which in turn, helps you out, too, you silly goose. So there you go, a win-win situation!

Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the musically-enhanced ride that is the ROFLCOPTER!

(P.S. You might be annoyed by my excessive use of the word "ROFL" but you know what, go eat a ROFLWAFFLE! That will make you feel better. Nom, nom. )

Jack's Mannequin @ Slim's- 11/2/2008

11/2/08, Slim's, San Francisco, CA

As soon as I found out that Jack’s Mannequin was playing Slim’s, I thought: “Holy Crap!” The last time Jack’s Mannequin rolled over the Bay Area was in February 2007 at the Warfield. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make that show, and I have been kicking myself ever since. So when the opportunity to see the band presented itself, this time around, I jumped on those tickets like there was no tomorrow. The tickets sold out long before the scheduled date. No surprise.

Jack’s Mannequin’s latest release The Glass Passenger is a product of his long, grueling, epic battle with Leukemia, as he covers everything from the painful nights stuck at the hospital to his newfound appreciation and attitude towards life, offering also an assortment of enjoyable, good-to-honest, piano-driven pop songs.

In his current run, the Hammers and Strings Tour, McMahon has decided to debut his songs in smaller, intimate venues in order to reach right out to the fans. Treaty of Paris and Eric Hutchinson accompany him on this trek of the country.

The venue was packed as Treaty of Paris opened up the night with a fun and friendly blend of rock and powerpop. Their all-acoustic set included some cheerful ditties such as “Elvis Lives” and Rollerskates,” which the crowd seemed to genuinely enjoy. The combination of their lightheartedness, lush harmonies and playful melodies seems most suitable for accompanying a nice sunny day on the beach.

Next to the stage was Eric Hutchinson, with guitar in hand and piano at the side. In the beginning of his set, he asked the audience who was familiar with his records. Only a few hands in the air served as a response. He humorously took it all in stride, as he made it his mission to win over the crowd. With his prim and proper schoolboy appearance, formally equipped with tie, collared shirt, and cardigan, the crowd wasn’t sure what to make of this modest Caucasian male. The answer came in the song “You Don’t Have to Believe Me,” surprising the unassuming audience with a whole lot of funk and soul. Hutchinson seems to draw from the good-humored air of Jason Mraz, the compelling drawl of Gavin Degraw, and the old-school nostalgic styling of Stevie Wonder. Hutchinson treated the audience to a cover of the Motown classic “My Girl,” adding a bit of his own flair as he teasingly infused lyrics of the “Ignition (Remix),” which encouraged a round of sing-along. As his set came to an end, Hutchinson accomplished his mission and made fans out of all, especially myself.

The wait for the set-up of Jack’s Mannequin had to be one of the longest I’ve had to endure ever. The crowd was packed in like a can of sardines and grew restless for McMahon’s emergence. This was an exceptionally irritating group, as, on one side of me, there was this shamelessly groping couple, who would occasionally molest me with their careless movements, and on the other side were some drunken douchebags, hollering about how they loved Mike & Ike’s. There were also threats of urination from one member of the crowd to another. Geez Louise!

Finally, to the roaring and thunderous applause of the ballistic crowd, McMahon came out with the band, plopped right onto his piano, and started off the set with “Crashing.” With the exception of his bassist donning an emo-inspired haircut, McMahon and company appeared humble, casual, and down-to-earth. I have to note that Andrew has grown quite some beastly facial hair. Sweet! A majority of their set incorporated practically all of the songs from the new album, with the audience most greatly responding to the infectious whirlwind of “Spinning” and uplifting, anthemic sounds of “The Resolution.” McMahon amazed all with his sheer power and zeal, pounding on the keys, jumping up and down, as if his life depended on it and singing every word with such emotion and bold conviction. By his performance, one could really tell how much Andrew puts into his music- his blood, sweat, tears, heart, soul…everything! He shows what exactly music is about and how it transcends even life itself. The fans reciprocated the energy, as they sang along with every song, even the new ones.

The band managed to fit in some of the older catalogue, treating the audience with such goodies as “Bruised” and “The Mixed Tape.” McMahon delighted the throng with some humorous anecdotes. One of which was about the online trend “Rickrolling.” Just as we thought Andrew himself was about to rickroll us, he started playing the familiar jaunty piano intro to “Dark Blue,” which drove the fans into a frenzy.

Perhaps the highlight of the night was when McMahon sang the intimately poignant “Caves.” With piano as the only accompaniment, the mass hushed as McMahon delicately crooned the song about his agonizing struggle against Leukemia. However, the tender moment was sullied as a fool yelled out something incoherently, which clearly threw off McMahon’s concentration. The audience and McMahon himself busted into a fit of laughter. Someone then shouted "Jager!" to which McMahon dryly responded, "Yes, this song is about Jagermesiter. You cheapened the moment you asshole." Remarking how that interruption got him feisty, McMahon regained control of the situation and proceeded the song with a smile.

For the encore, the band played a mix of covers by MGMT and Bruce Springstein. McMahon also catered to the loyal Something Corporate fans with “Cavanaugh Park.” The set ended as they played “La La Lie,” with members of Treaty of Paris joining the stage and chiming along, emphasizing the camaraderie McMahon hoped to instill upon the crowd.

Setlists:

Treaty of Paris
Hello Nurse
Waking Up the dead
New Improved
Elvis Lives
Here Goes Nothing
I'll Come Back
Rollerskates

Eric Hutchinson
Okay is alright with me
Food Chain
You don't have to believe me
Oh!
Back to Where I Was
It Hasn't Been Long Enough
My girl/remix ignition cover
Rock N roll

Jack's Mannequin
Crashin'
American Love
Swim
The Mixed Tape
Spinning
Suicide Blonde
Hammer and Strings (A Lullaby)
Bruised
Bloodshot
Annie Use Your Telescope
Miss California
Dark Blue
Caves
The Resolution
Holiday From Real
I'm Ready
Kids (MGMT cover)
I'm On Fire (Bruce Springstein cover)
Cavanaugh Park
La La Lie

Kaki King @ The Fillmore- 10/24/2008

10/24/2008, The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA

Unlike her first couple of releases, King decided to head towards a different musical direction with her third album Until We Felt Red, straying away from her mostly acoustic compositions in favor of more pop-orientated tunes, incorporating the use of electric guitars and another unusual element—her own voice. The use of the conventional for this unconventional talent turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Her latest release Dreaming of Revenge continues where the previous left off with the same melodic resonance, increasingly displaying her other natural flairs as songwriter and composer.

Recently, I had the pleasure of watching her at the legendary Fillmore. A sizeable crowd showed up, anticipating the prodigious musician.

A local 4-piece band, going by the moniker Interstellar Grains, opened up for the crowd. Their funky, laid back, organic vibe and spacey instrumental jam rock got the audience groovin’ along. They introduced another 5th member later onto their set, who helmed a mighty sitar, which was pretty darn stellar.

King stepped onto the stage with her guitar, as casual, calm, and confident as anyone could be, and immediately went into the first song off her latest album "Bone Chaos In the Castle" amidst the applause of the adoring crowd. Without taking a breather, she proceeded to softly strum along the melody to "Life Being What It Is", displaying her delicately ethereal pipes and creating a tranquil vibe, which set the tone for the rest of the night. Many of King's older fans are disappointed with her choice to play with a full, electric band. But, personally, I thought they complemented her naturalistic guitar playing quite well, adding a certain depth and energy to the performance, accompanying her with such ease as if they had been playing for years. Barely teetering over 5'1'', with a slim and pixie-like physique, King has a presence that is vastly enticing and enigmatic. Though serious in execution of performance, King isn't afraid to candidly interact with the audience and get a little silly, as she provided humorous anecdotes and prefaced a few songs with quips like: "This one's about spies" or "This song is about me being an asshole," all the while coolly taking a sip of her beer.

For the most part, King played much of the newer, electric material backed up by her band. Yet, she truly shined when left on her own with nothing but the the acoustic guitar. You could really tell that she was in her element. There's no doubt that she's a beast on the guitar, playing with such intensity and ferocity, yet in a controlled manner, showing the great amount of discipline and experience she retains.

King ended her set with a hardcore German ditty called "Dogs and Horses" about... you guessed it. If there's anyone that could make a song about canines and equestrianism cool, King can. This song was no cute fluff. King amazed the viewers with her tenacious death-metal screams, displaying her sense of diversity and the all-encompassing talent that this tiny, but most awesome, lady possesses... a great end to a great set.

Kaki King Setlist:
Bone Chaos In the Castle
Life Being What It Is
Jessica
Pull Me Out Alive
So Little For So Much
You Don't Have to Be Afraid
Goby
???
Yellowcake
Saving Days in a Frozen Head
2 o'clock
Dogs and Horses