Sunday, January 10th, 2010
"Panic"
Spoon covers The Smiths
Frank YangHere’s a little bit of trivia that I’m sure is interesting/alarming to me and me only – I haven’t seen Spoon live in over four years. The last time was at the Phoenix, circa Gimme Fiction in November 2005 and while I think they’ve only been here once since – a Kool Haus show in October 2007 which I skipped for whatever reason – it’s still a bit of a surprise. I did have a Britt Daniel encounter at a Mexican restaurant in Austin during ACL (“Bloggers! What’s up!”) but didn’t actually see them play during the festival. Again, for whatever reason.
So I look forward to rectifying that this year, when the band presumably hits the road in support of their impending new album Transference. I expect/fear that they’re now big enough that their local date will be at somewhere as big/awful as the Sound Academy – certainly a far cry from seeing them back at the ‘Shoe in 2002 – but you can’t begrudge a band a success that’s as hard-won as theirs is. Grouse about it, sure, but no begrudging.
I don’t really recall if they busted out any covers the few times I saw them, but this recording from April 2008 in Norfolk, Virginia shows they’re certainly up for it on occasion – and while I wouldn’t have thought The Smiths to be an obvious pick for them, this scrappy re-do of one of the first Smiths songs I ever recall hearing certainly works for me.
Spoon’s Transference is out on January 12. The Smiths are still broken up. Morrissey is currently without a label or management. Johnny Marr is a member of The Cribs and will be in town with them at the Phoenix this Friday night.
MP3: Spoon – “Panic”
Video: The Smiths – “Panic”
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1/10/10 10:52 am
Yeah, it’s about time they came back to Toronto. I’ve seen them every time they’ve been here, but it’s been a long time since they were here. Nice to see them doing well, but a bit wary about the new record. The one goal I have yet to accomplish with regard to Spoon is to actually see them play in Austin.