i went to see clinic last night in austin.  i don’t know what i was expecting, so i don’t know if it was a letdown or not…i can tell you it wasn’t worth 15 dollars.  They didn’t even play for a full hour, it was about 50 minutes.  they played a lot of the songs that i was hoping they wouldn’t, off their newer albums (most of which, oddly, sound like they are the same song.  example: “hey, didn’t they already play this song? oh wait…that one just added a clarinet. okay…” or “hey, didn’t they already play this song? oh wait…that one just added a harmonica. okay…” 

don’t get me wrong.  they are a good band, even if their superiority over other bands dwindled after their first album, from which they did play quite a few songs, thankfully.  they had one encore (they had stayed off stage for about 2 minutes, probably less) which consisted of three songs.  then they left.  again, don’t get me wrong. i hate encores.  i think they are stupidly contrived piles of garbage designed to boost the morale of the band.  you know what?  boost your own morale and just play a whole set, okay?  i went to an american analog set show where they did this, had no encores.  though that did kind of piss people off, because we had no warning that there would be no encore.  no warning!!

laura and i hadn’t been to austin in several months until last night.  i wanted to stay forever, but then i’d just end up spending money i shouldn’t be.  the record store here, in san marcos, rarely has anything good that is used.  waterloo ALWAYS has something i’ve been wanting. bless you waterloo.