And what's happened since then?

Well, I saw the Comas and they were okay but very loud. I know that's a horribly reductionist review, but clearly they sound better recorded than in a friendly but acoustically poor new-favorite dive bar, Empty Bottle. I actually preferred the opening act, Parker & Lily with their throbbing, vintage keyboards. Poor Lily from the band was so convincing, she got me to buy a CD to help her "afford a room for the night"

I also dove in to see the last 45 minutes of Fantomas last week at Metro, and all I can say is Wow! One of the better drummers I've ever heard. My friend Jane and I kept wondering, how do they memorize this music? It has no discernable melody, bridge, or even meter! I particularly liked the "boing, boing" sound effects. And so many young, black t-shirted males in the crowd. Overall, I guess it appeals to shut-in headbangers. Too bad they didn't play the theme from Rosemary's Baby, which has the best ending: "What .... Have They Done .... To...HIS EYES?"

Last night, on a whim, I ran out to Eagles in Milwaukee, which was refreshingly close to my home, and saw Miss Shirley Manson and Garbage. Well, I've been wanting to see them forever! And guess what? The band was okay. Coolest parts of the show were the lights behind them with 4 plasma screens and the wireless instruments: no cords at all on stage. Shirley is a good singer, but the mix, again a common complaint, could have let her voice through a little more. Plus the new album has not yet grown on me. My all time favorite is still Version 2.0. I love the slow sad ones like "the trick is to keep breathing" and "cup of coffee." Not quite in sync with the new harder-rock persona they're trying to cultivate with Bleed like Me. Anyway, the bandmembers were not very animated, and even Shirley was a little on the low-key side. Her outfit was very Eighties, so near and dear to my heart, including a pair of suede high-heeled half boots which an assistant changed for her after two or three songs into more comfortable flats. We're all getting so old! The crowd at this concert was greying 30-40 something couples with expensive eyewear.

Still looking forward to Deerhoof at Empty Bottle, and new on the horizon . . . Miss Kittin at Soundbar next Friday

Latest Music Buys: Death Disco & Garden State Soundtrack

1. Rock On, David Essex, Rock On
2. I Just Wanna Dance, Jerry Springer the Opera
3. Dance With Me, Orleans, Still the One
4. Disco Science, Mirwais, Production
5. You're My Disco, Fischerspooner (New Romantic Mix)
6. Toxic, Britney Spears, In the Zone
7. I Disappear, The Faint, Wet From Birth
8. Dream On, Depeche Mode, Exciter
9. Moonrainbow, The Comas, Conductor
10. Cup of Coffee, garbage, beautifulgarbage
11. Halo (Goldfrapp Remix), Depeche Mode, Remixes 81
12. This is the New Shit , Marilyn Manson vs. Goldfrapp
13. Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), Nancy Sinatra, Kill Bill Vol.2 Soundtrack
14. Across the Universe, Rufus Wainwright, I Am Sam Soundtrack
15. The Price is Right, Shirley Q. Liquor, Totally Ignunt
16. Get Down Tonight, Shreikback, Go Bang
17. Fly, Robin, Fly, Silver Convention, Pure Disco 2
18. Two Way Monologue, Sondre Lerche, Two Way Monologue
19. Song to the Siren, This Mortal Coil, It'll End in Tears

I just bought tix for 4 concerts
1. The Comas at the Empty Bottle on 2/18 with Vietnam Opening
2. Mono at Metro 3/31
3. Fantomas at Empty Bottle 4/19
4. Deerhoof at Empty Bottle 5/15

Drinking my favorite Glenmorangie Burgundy on the rocks