: : : Scenestars <-> Guaranteed To Break Your Hip : : :

Back in September I hung out with Giant Bear after one of their shows and soon after I think I became their number one fan. They invited me to come on the road with them to Midpoint Festival in Cincinnatti. It was a weekend filled with way too much drinking, camping in the rain, hangovers, crashing other bands' green rooms, more drinking and about 16 hours in a van with 7 people. Did I mention it was the great? We bonded, we spooned, we acted ridiculous.

But how was the show, you ask?

Here's what Cincin's CityBeat said:

Over at Arnold's, Tennessee's Giant Bear electrified the packed courtyard performance space with their wild, progressive spin on Americana. The six-piece was the best Roots act I personally saw all week. Supercharged and a ton of fun, the group’s manic energy was addicting. One of the members towards the end of the set asked if anyone was feeling patriotic. Met with silence, he said, "Yeah, me neither," and the band launched into a song about - Communism!

Here's Mike Larrivee's, the band's humble multi-instrumentalist, Best of 2006 list:

1. Gogol Bordello - Gypsy Punks
Infectious. High energy. Eugene Hutz is the best frontman in rock right now. Also the best headphone record of the year.

60 Revolutions - MP3

2. The Decemberists - Crane Wife
Hated it the first time I listened to it. A month later, someone gave me a vinyl copy, and I fell in love.

Summersong - MP3

3. Tom Waits - Orphans
3 discs of mostly new tracks from the greatest songwriter of the 20th & 21st century. Brawlers makes me like the blues, even.

You Can Never Hold Back Spring - MP3

4. Johnny Cash - American V
Makes me cry like when Old Yeller died.

If You Could Read My Mind - MP3

5. Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope
Best pop record in ages. Listen to The Hotel Song, and try not to wiggle like Steve Zissou in a wetsuit. Go ahead.

Hotel Song - MP3

And here are some pictures from the trip: