I Just Saw Built To Spill for the 23rd Time!! (VIDEO)

This week, I am reviewing my 23rd Built To Spill concert. Obviously, they are among my all-time favorites. This time around, Built to Spill was performing at Waiting Room on a Sunday night. Weezer was playing 20 minutes away at the casino, but it was a no-brainer as to which show I'd be attending!

The first opening band, that unfortunately missed, was called YAE. 

The second opener, Playdead, was amazing. The band features Scott Schmaljohn, former guitarist/vocalist for Treepeople. Doug Martsch was also in Treepeople prior to forming Built To Spill back in 1993. I had no idea that he was still making music, and am glad I found out. 

Built To Spill + Quasi LIVE at Waiting Room, Omaha, NE 9/21/24 (PHOTOS)

Doug Martsch of Built To Spill

I caught Built To Spill for what I think was the 22nd time last evening at Waiting Room. On the band's current tour, Built To Spill is celebrating the 30th birthday of its There's Nothing Wrong with Love album. The opener for the show was Quasi, featuring former Sleater-Kinney drummer, Janet Weiss. Both bands were excellent.

Melanie Radford of Built To Spill

Janet Weiss of Quasi

Sam Coomes of Quasi

Built To Spill TONIGHT at Slowdown FOR FREE!

Indie rock luminaries Built To Spill return to both Omaha and The Slowdown for a free concert tonight behind the downtown venue. The concert is being corporately sponsored by Toyota and Filter Magazine in conjunction with 1% Productions. In order to get a free ticket, you need to RSVP here.

Also on the bill are two Saddle Creek recording artists, The Rural Alberta Advantage and The Mynabirds.

Brief Built To Spill Wrap Up

Built To Spill 9/23/09 @ Slowdown, Omaha, NE

Last night's Built To Spill show at Slowdown was yet another in a long line of great concerts I've seen by this classic band. Last night might have been the 9th or 10th time I've seen them, and once again, BTS delivered the goods.

I was a little worried that the set would be comprised mostly of tunes from their forthcoming new album. I hate when bands play too much new stuff, especially when it has yet to be released. Last night, however, the band played maybe two brand new ones, and the rest spanned their entire career.

After the band's 100 minute set, BTS leader Doug Martsch dee-jayed for the rest of the night. I have no idea what he played since I didn't stick around. But, I'm guessing it wasn't your typical club DJ material.

I'm now very much looking forward to the new Built To Spill album, There Is No Enemy, which comes out October 6.

Built To Spill TONIGHT at Slowdown

I'm very psyched today because one of my all-time favorite bands, Built To Spill is playing in town. I've been a fan of BTS since its leader, Doug Martsch, left his former band Treepeople in 1993. I've probably seen them 10-12 times over the years, and never miss another chance to see this band live.

Martsch is an amazing guitar player, for one, but he is also a first rate songwriter. I'd liken BTS to a combination of Neil Young and Dinosaur Jr. The music can be epic, loud, and powerful, but it can also be sweet and sensitive at the same time. The band seems to go back and forth between writing longer, jammier (for lack of a better term) songs and shorter, poppier ones. Though the long ones definitely have pop appeal, as well.

I can't wait. There is one opener, Disco Doom, who I know nothing about. Tickets are still available for $20.

Two Paragraphs on Built To Spill in Omaha

Brief comment on the Built To Spill show from last Wednesday night. It was amazing - best I've ever seen them. The knock on their last show was that the band jammed too long and played a bunch of tunes that no one had heard yet (this was a month or so before the last album, You In Reverse, had been released). This was definitely NOT the case this time. They ran through most of their best songs from the albums since 94's There's Nothing Wrong With Love.

I was in the primo spot at Slowdown -- on the far left of the balcony. I had a totally unobstructed view and it sounded great up there. The show was sold out, but it was not oversold. I liked that. Omaha now seems to be on the shortlist of cities that Built To Spill hits on every tour. I am assuming they'll be back next year when the new album is released.

Built To Spill TONIGHT

One of my favorite bands of all time, Built To Spill, is playing in Omaha tonight. I am so excited. I need a good concert more than almost anything. It has been a really shitty week. BTS is playing tonight at The Slowdown (14th & Cuming). Tickets are still available, but not for long.

Built To Spill has a new 12" single available at their shows. The two new songs are reggae influenced. You did not read that wrong, I said reggae. They are really good. Listen to the new single, "They Got Away" here.