Bob Pollard/Boston Spaceships Apreesh
My college friend Jeff introduced me to Guided by Voices when we were roommates. I didn't listen to much of them, but could always hear the GbV sound wafting through our apartment. Mostly, I got a kick out of how much Jeff was obsessed with the music, and how he told the story of Bob Pollard, elementary school teacher turned indie rock god, scorned and rejected by his family for his career change. Sadly, I never saw GbV live, and then after college they nearly totally fell off the radar for me. Now that I'm in my time of revisting ye olde college hits, it's perfect timing that Bob was in town last night with his band Boston Spaceships. What a treat! The best show I've ever been to. Otherworldly. It was like a huge musical lovefest, and the band was totally on and into it. Even after the house lights came up, BS came out for a second encore. Crowd surfing ensued...for about 5 seconds, until security put a quick end to it. But it was a small, worthwhile victory for the 90s-oriented, pogo-dancing audience, anyway. The guy is 51, and he can high-kick, twirl a mic, strike a pose, and swill liquor and beer onstage like no one's business - it's really very astounding. They finished the night with a string of GbV classics, and the diminished crowd (some people actually did leave when the house lights came up) exploded. When they played one of the two GbV songs I know so well, tears were shed. Absolutely amazing!