David Sedaris @ Lied Center Nov. 9
Best-selling author, radio contributor, humorist, comedian, writer.
David Sedaris is a jack of all trades, and much like his broad range of professions, Sedaris’ witty and sharp humor observes a wide variety of themes from culture shock to anthropomorphized animals to pesky lisps. Sedaris often approaches each story– which he often bases off events that happen in his life– with a nonchalant air and a brilliant humor.
Seeing Sedaris live offers an entirely new aspect than reading his books or magazine essays. The clever intellect mixed with the piercing, amusing tone spoken with a subtle lisp and theatrical facial expressions makes Sedaris’ stories that much better when hearing him live. The difference is that of hearing a friend tell a comedian’s joke: it’s still funny but one will laugh the most when being told the joke with the original, unique delivery of the comedian.
Called “the rock star of writers,” Sedaris has written multitudes of books, articles, and essays since his writing start in the early 90’s, each being critically acclaimed and praised, having a total of five New York Times Best Sellers and selling over seven million copies. Dress Your Family in Courdirouy and Live at the Carnegie were both nominated for Grammys under the Spoken Word category. Sedaris frequently contributes on NPR’s This American Life as well.
Sedaris will make you laugh until you cry and then make you think and then make you burst into more laughter. Period. There’s no two ways around it. Youth tickets are $15 and adult tickets are $30. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Thee Oh Sees @ The Granada Nov. 25
Hailing from San Francisco, indie rock group Thee Oh Sees bring their experimental twist on power pop to The Granada on Nov. 25 with opening bands Total Control, The Spook Lights and Mouthbreathers.
Upon first listen, Thee Oh Sees’ music can be described in one word: quirky. After listening to them again, their music is still quirky. But quirky in a good way. A familiar quirkiness. A quirkiness that beckons one to keep listening, as if the jittery, trippy and grungy sounds are an addiction that can only be absolved through replays of the three-minute kookiness that is their songs.
Known for their lively, aggressive, punk-spirit-infused shows, Thee Oh Sees’ concert at the Granada will have fans energetically jumping up and down– or at least have fans wildly dancing around. The quartet’s punk-rock vibe is reminiscent of X’s and the Talking Head’s electrified on-stage spirit, best shown off in venues the size of the Granada. So maybe Thee Oh Sees can be summed up in a few words actually: captivating, wild, outlandish and, of course, fun.
Be ready for one heck of a show, and don’t wear nice clothing: spilt beer will most likely be flying everywhere. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door and doors open at 9:00 p.m. The show is all ages.
City and Colour @ The Granada Nov. 14
If Thee Oh Sees are loud, quirky and trippy, then City and Colour is the exact opposite. That isn’t to say that they don’t bring the emotion and passion, though.
City and Colour is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Dallas Green, who injects jolts of soul and tear-conjuriing emotion into every song. Not to suggest that one will bawl at every song, but Green’s delivery alone is enough to make neck hairs stand on end and goosebumps to scatter your arms. Combine that with heart-aching lyrics that dig deep and sweetly strummed guitar strings and a beautiful Frankenstein takes form.
Although City and Colour’s music is probably often listened to on car-rides with friends at midnight or while laying awake in bed in winter nights, the concert will be exciting and certainly worth going to as Green brings out the emotion from the records to an eager crowd. Green’s music takes its own form but sometimes hints at the falsetto of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and the rawness of Connor Oberst from Bright Eyes.
City and Colour will no doubt have you singing along to anguish-ridden choruses and verses that shine with rays of optimism. Tickets are $20 in advance and doors open at 7:00 p.m. The show is all ages.
