(Lov) // MARFA, TX (Dirty Projectors)

The main reason we took this trip out to Marfa, other than my long held desire to visit West Texas, was to see the Dirty Projectors at the Crowley Theater.  It's not very often you get to see a band of this magnitude in a teeny tiny little venue that seats about 170 people.  To give you some perspective, they played a sold out show a few days later in Austin at one of it's largest venues (Stubbs).  

We got there pretty early (there's just not a whole lot to do in Marfa) and chatted up some of the people also waiting for the show.  El Paso, Dallas, Houston... most were BIG fans who had come for all over Texas.  The opening band was Wye Oak  who, despite some technical problems and obvious touring fatigue, did not disappoint.  I chose not to post those pictures as most of them were of a blurry drummer (he moves CONSTANTLY and plays the drums, keyboard, and sometimes guitar at the SAME time and a I don't use flash at shows) and a grump faced lead singer who pretty much looked like this (below) the entire time.  Nevertheless, they put on a fantastic show.

       

Over the last year, the Dirty Projectors has quickly become on of my favorite bands.  There music is complicated, multi-layered, effects laden rock with some of the most amazing vocal harmonies you will ever hear.  We had incredible seats (second row center) and the sound was perfectly mixed.  The vocals bouncing off all of the wonderful wood in the theater coupled with drama of the lights and shadows gave me goose bump multiple times. Brendan and I both agreed that this was the best show ever- true musical perfection.  

This young fellow was just a few people down from us and I don't think he would mind being called a "super fan".  He was having a true religious experience - so familiar with there songs that he was able to determine which effects were being left out of the live performance and added them by either clapping of singing.  Normally this would have annoyed me to no end, but it actually added to the experience.

After the show, I was hanging out in the merch area and doing a little "shooting from the hip" action and didn't realize I had gotten this picture until latter that night.  This guy's shirt just about sums it up.  We had such an amazing time going to a place neither of us have ever been.  We will definitely be back to West Texas (with Lydia) and hope to explore Big Bend and Chinati Hotsprings... but I think we will do it in the Spring or Fall.  :)

(Lov)e,

-k.