[ATTENDED: November 27, 2021] The Districts
I was supposed to see The Districts play at Union Transfer on March 12. COVID-19 had just found its way into New Jersey and Pennsylvania and I was being very cautious so I decided to skip the show. It was a safe decision, but one that I now regret as it would have been a pretty great final show of the year. Shows pretty much completely stopped after that.
I was then supposed to see the Districts three times in 2021 (a lot of that was coincidence). The opened for Modest Mouse (I had no idea they were going to), then they announced a show in Asbury Park and then, at the end of the year they were supposed to open for Dr. Dog (they bailed on that show, as did I, even though the show went on).
After seeing them open for Modest Mouse, I wanted to see them headline, because they tend to go a bit more nuts when they are in charge.
I was happy to see them in such a small place, but I hadn’t really thought this show through. Asbury Park, on Thanksgiving weekend. Holy crap, the place was full of reunited and drunk college students. Which made for a more festive atmosphere but also meant that security almost had to pull somebody out and that everyone was singing along (badly) at the top of their lungs. And of course drunk people were pushing forward throughout the show.
The band seemed to be in a really good mood when they came out and they rocked several classic songs: “4th and Roebling,” “Salt” and ‘If Before I Wake” (the crowd loves singing the “I’m just a narcissist” line) Then they moved on to You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere for “Hey Jo,” and the moody “My Only Ghost.” (more…)
