A decade ago this week (thanks photo app reminders!) I went to go see Chairlift open for Ariel Pink at a now-defunct venue in Fishtown, Philadelphia called M Room. The show was one of the most memorable live performances that I’ve ever attended, definitely in my personal Top 10.
Chairlift’s lead singer Caroline Polachek was pure magic. Their songs radiated light in a warm glow and gave chills with each note. I was instantly in love.
Ariel, by contrast, was a hot, boiling mess in all the best, incredible ways. He didn’t come to the stage for nearly an hour after Chairlift played and everyone in the venue was getting drunker and more irritated.
Once he finally got to the stage, he yawped, freaked out, writhing on the ground while screaming and singing and sweating. Those are my feet in the image above. I felt his sweat cover the floor. It was fantastic.
Everyone in the room lost their marbles. Everyone was there to party and everything felt so rock n’ roll. Like it was exploding, summertime meltdown. I don’t think I’ve experienced a small-venue show that good before or since.
Not only do I still have the merch table vinyl from that evening, I still play those records a lot. Chairlift crashed at my house that night, staying up late, gabbing. Music memories! Love ‘em.
