Has everyone properly registered Carrie Brownstein's ascent to indie-alternaverse regency? The post-Sleater-Kinney, post-NPR Music, current Portlandia star/Wild Flag guitarist seems more or less on top of everything skinny and witty and pale these days. And boy is it an exhilirating process to witness in its salad days. To that combination, add that NPR was webcasting Wild Flag's set live, as well of the rest of their Thursday afternoon showcase at the Parish, and it was no surprise that the party felt like an auspicious confluence of events. I hadn't heard their record before this show, and it seemed as though much of the audience was as excited as I to experience so much new material all at once.
But regardless of how into it the audience was, it could only have been a shred compared to the absolute fury Brownstein, Weiss, Timony and Cole brought to bear on stage. Never have I seen such well-executed guitar flailing, synchronized jumps or windmill strums per minute in my life - nor do I expect to again for a very long time.
