I was starting to feel a little antsy recently because the last good concert I attended was Trapped Within Burning Machinery way back in November. Then I bumped into an old friend who asked if I was going to see Mary Timony play the songs of Helium. Within ten minutes I was on my phone ordering a ticket. I spent the rest of that day at work looking over recent setlists and watching audience videos from other dates on recent tours. I shot Ian a text asking how did I not know this was happening, and his response was something like, “I don’t know I never really got into Helium.” I found that odd, seeing as how my earliest memory of hearing The Magic City was when he pulled the LP out of a bin at Academy Records when it was still on North 6th Street in Williamsburg. I’m about 99% sure he told me I needed it because Ash Bowie from Polvo was in the band. Maybe I’m misremembering, but I have a really dumb memory when it comes to when and where I heard certain records for the first time. The Magic City (and “The Revolution Of Hearts, Parts I & II” specifically) were definitely first heard at the listening station at Academy. If you and I have been friends for the past twenty years and you can refute this, by all means, let me know.
I couldn’t have been more impressed by Timony and her band this weekend. Guitarist Nicole Lawrence especially was fun to watch. The two of them seemed to be having a blast playing off one another. Overall I couldn’t have asked for a better show. The crowd was great, and Timony appeared to feed off their energy. I don’t know how many shows are left on this tour, or if there are plans for more shows under the Mary Timony Plays Helium guise, but if she comes to your town I would classify it is a must-see performance.
Setlist:
Pat’s Trick
XXX
Trixie’s Star
All The X’s Have Wings
Leon’s Space Song
The Revolution Of Hearts, Parts I & II
Vibrations
Ancient Cryme
Lady Of Fire
Walk Away
Walk Away [James Gang]
encore: Honeycomb
encore: Superball
encore: Baby’s Going Underground
