After-action report on last night’s Ribbons/Surge extravaganza at the Black Cat. First, Maoist self-criticism: we shouldn’t have played two covers in a row — "No One Will Ever Love You" by Magnetic Fields and "Box Elder" by Pavement. We learned the Magnetic Fields track on Saturday, but it went fairly well. I broke a stick during "I Am An Hourglass," our Petty-esque closing number, and it drilled Rory in the base of the brain. Success. Charles Gray, the mastermind behind forthcoming EP Why Don’t Say They Tell You — I swear we will put music online as soon as the record is mastered — and our guest bassist, proved his value once again last night, not that it was ever in doubt. Thanks to everyone for coming out, especially Windy colleagues Mike Lillis, Laura McGann, Dave Weigel and Matt DeLong.

Ribbons, however, blew us out of the water. Imagine if the Durruti Column were a black-metal band — dour, dark, spare yet somehow frenetic. The "somehow frenetic" comes from drummer Sam, who has introduced double bass pedals to indie rock. I felt privileged to share the stage. Singer/guitarist Jenny deserves tremendous rock n roll credit for playing an excellent set despite a debilitating stomach flu. See these guys whenever you get a chance. They’ll be in Boston pretty soon I believe.

Hungover as hell today. But if you can’t work hungover, get out of the Game.