Seeing Car Seat Headrest at a legitimate venue with lots of adoring fans was kind of surreal. Although frontman Will Toledo claimed that “nobody cared too much” about his music at his alma mater William & Mary, where we both went to school at the same time, and that “people would come to shows […] more for something to do rather than anyone caring too much” (Vice), I think I cared a quite a bit -- I mean, I might not have been one of his revering online fans, but I really liked his music and thought he was pretty cool. Now, I wasn’t cool enough to be his friend or anything, but I like to give myself some credit for showing him to people who I think ended up booking him some shitty shows in the NoVa/DC-area, and who knows, maybe Matador found him somewhere there (I don’t think that’s how it really it went or am dumb enough to believe anyone legitimate would dare be seen at one of those shows, but I still like to give myself credit).
Plus he’s from Leesburg, and I sort of romanticized Leesburg growing up since it was slightly less shitty than my ultra-suburban neighboring town of Ashburn, and was actually in downtown Leesburg the night before at a local brewery thinking of what it must have been like growing up there, then going to W&M, and somehow becoming an indie rock star later -- I guess it makes sense, lots of angst/suppression/little to no outlets. Although Will says “There was zero music scene locally” (Rolling Stone), I was pretty proud of my shitty little high school music column where I somehow managed to interview some decent bands online and sprinkled in some of the local, shitty teenage bands who mostly covered Oasis and Dashboard Confessional to impress girls at parties. Who says that’s “zero”? Plus, I totally know “the Target and Kohl’s near the Battlefield Shopping Center” where he apparently recorded in the back seat of his parents car (Washington Post) and went to his high school for various school things, so the whole thing is kinda weird -- that music that has resonated so much with so many people originated like in my backyard and overlaps with my life in different ways, but I guess a lot of people feel that way about people they tangentially know -- but Leesburg? William & Mary? Not super cool places for the kind of sound Will managed to come out of it, but I guess context isn’t everything. Without further adieu, the setlist: 1) “Can't Cool Me Down” I love this new song! I think this was my boyfriend’s favorite, and definitely one of mine of the night/their whole discography (I’m aware of) so far. I read on Stereogum that they debuted it in Boston earlier this tour and it’s great, a very exciting suggestion of what direction they may be headed musically. Super synth-heavy (the intro was amazing and a great show-starter), and angst-laden with claustrophobic lyrics about holes in the ceiling and smokes pouring out the wall, I loved the droney vocals and chorus especially. It sort of reminded me of possibly referring to new-found fame with the “can’t cool me down” theme but still anxious-ridden lyrics about not supposed to be someplace and “blood turning watercolor.” The longer length (about 8 minutes I think) with “Beach Life-In-Death” encore also framed the whole show really nicely. Plus all the guitar-work, sort of choppy at the beginning and throughout parts, and solo at the end, were fucking cool. 2) “Bodys” (did not know they were on Jimmy Fallon, weird! Cool version though, pretty funny) Great, faster-paced song. “I just wanna hold you” and “You got some nice shoulders / I’d like to put my hands around them” with the terror of the other person’s body falling apart at any second… really fun, really sweet, really relatable (stealing alcohol from parent’s and grandparent’s, not talking a lot, letting our bodies talk instead and dance, etc!). 3) “Cute Thing” Fun, sexy, one of my favorite intros. “I am loved” and sleeping naked, great lyrics, fun, dance-y. I know Twin Fantasies is like their biggest album and I probably don’t know enough about it to know how popular this track might be, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear it! 4) “Maud Gone” Will warned this would be slower, and it was well-timed in the show. Croony, I love the instrumental that repeats with the guitar at the end, and it sort of reminded me of a weird version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (I know he has some Beatles influence but this is probably a stretch) with the repetition of the person being gone and it kind of wailing. 5) “Weightlifters” This one might be new, too? Can’t really find it anywhere, besides this recent YouTube video from this tour. One of my favorites. Jaggedy guitar, sort of an older sound reminiscent of more traditional rock influences vs. like low-fi, indie sound in my opinion. I liked the dissonant, thudding sounds at the end too but not sure everyone else did or whether it was sort of a “fuck you.” 6) “Fill in the Blank” Energizing, popular, dance-y crowd-pleaser. Very representative of the sort of blasé apathy characteristic of the band, but in a pretty sincere and genuine way. The “hurts, hurts, hurts” especially resonates with me and right to be depressed and holding your breathe, I jokingly wondered if this was the one on 13 Reasons Why when I couldn’t remember (I actually really like “Oh! Starving” and hope that it’ll still be played live despite the whole controversy thing). 7) “Sober to Death / Powderfinger” My absolute favorite. Sort of, slightly, country-twangy/classic rock-y, I really liked the other vocalist on this one and commented on how interestingly his and Will’s voices complement each other, and the way one of the opener band Naked Giant’s vocalist ended the song. Beautiful, great musicality, really sticks with you with the vocal delivery. 8) “America” Hadn’t heard this one before, really lyrical and nice slow one (to start, very dynamic throughout) in between big tracks. My boyfriend and I just saw his favorite band called The Midnight in their hometown of Brooklyn and they have an America song my boyfriend thinks is a nod at the Paul Simon one (his favorite musician of all-time), so I was silently making all of these illegitimate comparisons that didn’t make much sense. 9) “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales” Obviously, another crowd-favorite. During our post-show discussion I shared that I wasn’t really sure what this song was about, like it’s got to be more than just drunk driving (otherwise I’m sure health teachers across the country would rally around it, but that’s probably just the teacher in me thinking) -- my boyfriend thought it might be metaphorical of a relationship, but it was interestingly timed toward the end while a lot of the crowd was drunk (and pretty obnoxious I might add, this one guy in particular kept requesting songs even after they started playing and it was so cringey but I thought the band was pretty graceful about it)... and killer whales? 10) “Destroyed by Hippie Powers” I like the sort of auto-biographical vibe (“killing the fucker [chubby little kid who smiled so much and loved the Beach Boys] and took his name and got new glasses”), it’s also relatable and has super catchy guitar work I probably overlooked falling behind on their newer music. (I miss “Something Soon” :( p.s. wtf). Encore: “Beach Life-In-Death” One of my faves, super dynamic, I knew immediately upon hearing it that it was an encore song and it was a great way to end the show. Overall, a really memorable concert and fun to see how many people rally behind this little band I used to see at the over-crowded Meridian Coffeehouse on South Boundary Street/Magnolia House in Cville, weird new pizza place that opened before I graduated, and music video I’m pretty sure was recorded at the dorm room we both lived at my junior year. The 7-piece act incorporating the opening band, Naked Giants, was overwhelming at first, but I thought that the additions provided some nice enhancements at some parts (their drummer at the end went CRAZY with the cow bell). I think Will has really found “his people” in the sort of cult-following fan base that has developed and can relate to the angst, implosion, and amazing flailing around on stage (so many dance interludes interwoven into each song) -- sure, I might have harshly joked how many Starbucks baristas it looked like were in the audience, but they were super passionate and into every song; it was fun and endearing and I loved it. Spotify playlist link of the tracks that are currently available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/mgabro/playlist/2B7FSpBdueieBfzgQ6CRxN?si=MjisXNXBSd6zz97Zax52uw
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AuthorWe are Kieran and Michelle, two 32-year-old William & Mary grads living in Virginia. Archives
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