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Courtney Dudley

Washed Out played House of Vans with Chairlift and Lemonade (pics and review)

by Courtney Dudley

Washed Out, House of Vans, 8/02/2012
Washed Out

As expected, the line to get into last nights House of Vans show (on 8/2) snaked blocks down Kent, at least to N 12th. The good news: everyone who stuck it out eventually got in. I saw that line and immediately thought, “Oh HELL, no” …but good job you guys! I’m impressed. What a testament to your perseverance and commitment. Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re apathetic.

I’m supposed to express my feelings about the show — and don’t worry, I’m going to — but like, who really cares about my opinion on Lemonade, Chairlift and Washed Out? I don’t even play any instruments. If you care so much to read this review, you should have gone to the damn show and formed your own opinions ’cause it was free and full of beautiful people so its not like it wouldn’t have been a good time. Therefore I will keep my musing away from subjective assertions about the quality of the music and focus instead on other, even more inane points.

Lemonade, House of Vans 8/02/2012
Lemonade

Lemonade opened and OMFG how cute are those boys?! No seriously, their music was great and dancey but lead vocalist Callan Clendenin kept looking around and smiling like he was so happy to be there and smiles are contagious, people. I want to hang out with him all the time so when something bad happens he can smile at me. Get splashed with city bile by a bus on 14th St? Smile at me, Callan! Your dog ran away and you got fired? Don’t worry, Lemonade is right around the corner, smiling at you. If only! In short, this is feel good music. It’s summertime, y’all. If you missed them they’re playing at PS1 with Jamie xx on Saturday (8/4) afternoon and then DJing Glasslands later that night.

Chairlift, House of Vans 8/02/2012
Chairlift

Next was Chairlift. Now, I’m not going to talk about the vocalist’s sweet, foreign sounding wails. I’m not going to talk about how much she sounds like a less creative version of Lykke Li or Niki and the Dove and how you probably shouldn’t waste your time unless you’re one of those people who voluntarily chooses vanilla ice cream over coffee with Heath bar. Sometimes I want to listen to boring imitations of more innovative music, I guess. Most importantly, check out the chick’s hair. You guys, I thought I had seen every possible version of ombré. I thought we Brooklyn women had taken the ombré trend and squeezed every last drop out of it — everyone clamoring for their own original configuration, desperately convincing our hairdresser friends to come over and help, only to find us passed out on the floor of our bathrooms, hugging a bottle of Jameson with empty bleach and Manic Panic jars strewn about. It’s hair, and it’s serious. But Chairlift did it. I know I haven’t seen every person in the world but I think she did it. And it’s beautiful.

Chairlift are in Chicago this weekend, playing Lollapalooza Saturday (8/4) and an aftershow on Sunday (8/5) at Empty Bottle, then touring all over the place before opening for The xx at their two shows in the Bronx in October.

Washed Out, House of Vans 8/02/2012
Washed Out

Finally, Washed Out took the stage. Now, I’m not going to pretend to understand what happens when they play live shows. There is a lot of knob turning. I was anxious to find out how they make that lil ‘bug-ee’ noise on “Before” and I still don’t know. All I know is it sounds a hell of a lot like “Dougie,” as in “teach me how to” and can someone please mash those songs together for me?

I know this is a world of subjectivity and everyone is allowed their own opinions and whatnot, but if anything in the past six months was ever an indisputable fact, it’s that Washed Out’s last EP, Life of Leisure, is fucking amazing. Within and Without is pretty damn good too. If you don’t agree, put away your obviously inferior feelings on the genre, get high and go swimming. Make out with someone soft. Pet a cat. Ride your bike to the beach. Sit on a stoop and drink a bottle of wine. By yourself. Do all of these things while listening to Washed Out and tell me that it isn’t the most perfect soundtrack to your everyday life.

Washed Out are also in Chicago this weekend for Lollapalooza (tonight) and an aftershow(Sat 8/4 House of Blues) and will then hit the road with The Shins. Washed and and Chairlift dates are listed below, along with more pictures from House of Vans.

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

Chairlift

Chairlift

Chairlift

Chairlift

Chairlift

Chairlift

Chairlift

Chairlift

Chairlift

Chairlift

Chairlift

Chairlift

Chairlift

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Washed Out

Chairlift – 2012 Tour Dates
FRI 3 AUGUST – SUN 5 AUGUST Lollapalooza 2012 Chicago, IL, US
SUN 5 AUGUST The Empty Bottle Chicago, IL, US
TUE 28 AUGUST Shaw Conference Center Edmonton, AB, Canada
WED 29 AUGUST Stampede Corral Calgary, AB, Canada
FRI 31 AUGUST Deer Lake Park Vancouver, BC, Canada
SAT 1 SEPTEMBER – SUN 2 SEPTEMBER FYF Festival 2012 Los Angeles, CA, US
SUN 2 SEPTEMBER McMenamin’s Edgefield Amphitheater Troutdale, OR, US
TUE 4 SEPTEMBER The Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA, US
FRI 7 SEPTEMBER House of Blues Las Vegas, NV, US
SAT 8 SEPTEMBER Santa Barbara Bowl Santa Barbara, CA, US
SUN 9 SEPTEMBER Greek Theatre Berkeley, CA, US
FRI 14 SEPTEMBER Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park Kansas City, MO, US
SUN 16 SEPTEMBER Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica Cleveland, OH, US
MON 17 SEPTEMBER Lifestyle Communities Pavilion Columbus, OH, US
TUE 18 SEPTEMBER Fox Theatre Detroit, MI, US
THU 20 SEPTEMBER Molson Canadian Amphitheatre Toronto, ON, Canada
FRI 21 SEPTEMBER Jacques Cartier Pier (old Port) Montreal, QC, Canada
SAT 29 SEPTEMBER Parklife Festival 2012 Brisbane, QLD, Australia
SAT 29 SEPTEMBER Parklife Brisbane Brisbane, QLD, Australia
SUN 30 SEPTEMBER Parklife Festival 2012 Sydney, NSW, Australia
SUN 30 SEPTEMBER Parklife Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
MON 1 OCTOBER Parklife Festival 2012 Perth, WA, Australia
MON 1 OCTOBER Parklife Perth Perth, WA, Australia
SAT 6 OCTOBER Parklife Festival 2012 Melbourne, VIC, Australia
SAT 6 OCTOBER Parklife Melbourne Melbourne, VIC, Australia
SUN 7 OCTOBER Parklife Festival 2012 Adelaide, SA, Australia
SUN 7 OCTOBER Parklife Adelaide Adelaide, SA, Australia
WED 10 OCTOBER U.N.O. Lakefront Arena New Orleans, LA, US
WED 24 OCTOBER Impérial de Québec Québec, QC, Canada
THU 25 OCTOBER House of Blues Boston, MA, US
FRI 26 OCTOBER Paradise Theater Bronx, NY, US
SUN 28 OCTOBER Paradise Theater Bronx, NY, US
MON 29 OCTOBER The Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA, US
TUE 30 OCTOBER Rams Head Live Baltimore, MD, US

Washed Out – 2012 Tour Dates
Aug. 3 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues – [SOLD OUT]
Aug. 4 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza – [SOLD OUT]
Aug. 6 – Lawrence, KS – The Granada Theatre – [Buy Tickets]
Aug. 7 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room – [Buy Tickets]
Aug. 8 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater – [Buy Tickets]
Aug. 10 – San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands – [Buy Tickets]
Sep. 22 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre – [Buy Tickets] *w/The Shins
Sep. 25 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum Theatre – [Buy Tickets] *w/The Shins
Sep. 26 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium – [Buy Tickets] *w/The Shins
Sep. 28 – Atlanta, GA – CounterPoint Festival – [Buy Tickets]
Sep. 30 – San Diego, CA – Open Air Theatre – [Buy Tickets] *w/The Shins
Oct. 2 – Los Angeles, CA – Gibson Amphitheatre – [Buy Tickets] *w/The Shins
Oct. 3 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theater – [Buy Tickets] *w/The Shins
Oct. 4 – Albuquerque, NM – Kiva Auditorium – [Buy Tickets] *w/The Shins