12/05/08 - Explosions in the Sky and Eluvium

I wasn't totally sure what to expect before I went to this gig, as 'post rock' is usually something I have on in the background when i'm doing work or browsing the internet and so seeing that type of music live was an idea that could have gone terribly wrong.

After some careful planning, we arrived at the Paradiso exactly as the doors were supposed to be opened, only to find that they had moved everything back half an hour. We had things to keep us busy though, such as looking at the EitS t-shirts (with designs stolen directly from Guillemots) and watching the awful guitar playing of Matthew Houck of Phosphorescent (I guess we should have followed all of those people heading in the opposite direction).

The wait inside was short, and eventually Matthew Cooper, the force behind Eluvium walked onstage and sat down in the space that had strategically been placed on the far right to annoy everybody in the venue. He was expressionless throughout, the only movements visible being his fingers on the guitar/piano and his body swaying slowly to the beat of his music. This gave everyone very little to look at during the gig as he built up layers and layers of sound with the use of a computer and looping pedals. Most people (including me) decided to close their eyes and let the music conjure up images in their minds, mainly due to there being nothing to look at but also because the soundscapes were incredibly soothing. The songs on the set list were chosen to create an alternating pattern between a song played on guitar with many layers looping over each other, and the simpler but more beautiful, piano tracks. The sound also could have been a little better as the awkward placement made the sound in the venue incredibly one-sided, with the bass notes dominating over everything (Repose in Blue!). Overall the set was short but sweet, perhaps not the best kind of music to be played in a 'large' hall such as Paradiso, as it lacked the visual aspect of a live show, but the music was fantastic and something i'd definitely go to hear again.
[3.5/5]

I tried to write down the set list to the best of my ability:
1. Under the Water It Glowed
2. An Accidental Memory in the Case of Death
3. ?
4. Radio Ballet
5. Repose in Blue

After what must have been a shockingly short 5-10 minutes, the members of Explosions in the Sky walked on, to a massive round of applause. They were definitely not the kind of people i'd expect to write that sort of music, but that feeling vanished as soon as they started playing. There was a short 'Hello! We are...' introduction using the mic placed almost as awkwardly to the right as the Eluvium setup after which, the journey began. I feel the need to say a cheesy line such as that because although they played different songs, there was never musical silence in the Paradiso until they had finished their set. Each song joined onto another through little guitar loops that would be created by any one of the (three) guitarists, during which the others would kneel down and tune up, in an almost choreographed fashion (this would happen during riff changes mid-song too), followed by the smoothest transition from guitar loop to new riff ever seen. The dynamic feel of the members was also outstanding, which made both the loud sections and the soft sections really special and emotive. The sound of these guys was one of the best i've ever heard, the mix was crystal clear, even during the painfully loud sections, and their guitar tones were so distinct that you could pick each one out at all times. The energy they had was also immense, despite not making much/any eye contact with the crowd, which went well with the climaxes of their songs. After another short, farewell speech, the band left the stage to another huge round of applause.

Overall, I don't have anything big to criticize, but it was a bit of a shame that my listening habits prevented me from recognizing the songs and distinguishing them from one another, despite it being really interesting to see how the different parts fit together for each song.
[4/5]

Again, I tried to get the whole set list from my friends and the band members:
1. Yasmin the Light
2. Catastrophe and the Cure
3. Greet Death
4. First Breath After Coma
5. Magic Hours
6. The Birth and Death of the Day
7. Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean
8. The Only Moment We Were Alone

05/05/08 - Juliette and the Licks

I love summer for many reasons, one of them being the big free outdoor music festivals. It's also a nice bonus when an interesting band comes to play, whether it's because they're well known or because they just make great music.

Juliette and the Licks is, of course, based around actress Juliette Lewis, and it was two of my friends' huge admiration for her that inspired me to go and check them out, more so than the music anyway. I had heard their albums and EPs once or twice through each and so I knew what to expect musically, but I was interested to see how the songs would come across in a live situation. They were introduced by someone working at the festival, who said many embarrassing and nasty things about Juliette in Dutch, so I can only hope no one translated it for her later.

The band were incredibly energetic from the moment they stepped on stage until the moment they stepped off, giving the crowd something to look at at all times. Juliette Lewis was naturally the center of attention, with her wacky dances and sexy stage moves, frequently coming to the front of the stage to get the crowd going. She was also very talkative in between songs to keep the crowd interested. The sound was surprisingly good for a big outdoor stage although the vocals were drowned out at times, and the intensity of their songs, coupled with the sunshine and the trees made for a great atmosphere. Most songs were unfortunately quite similar-sounding but it must be said that I was impressed both with the musicianship of the members (switching instruments during the last song for a little bit of showing off) and the fact that they kept the energy level of their set list at its maximum throughout, by not playing any slow songs.
[3.5/5]

1. Sticky Honey
2. 20 Year Old Lover
3. Smash and Grab
4. Got Love to Kill
5. Inside the Cage
6. Purgatory Blues
7. Pray for the Band Latoya
8. ? ("Dirty thieves" ?)
9. Get Up
10. You're Speaking My Language