The band played at the Concourse last night. This was my 3rd time to see them - the first two were in Austin at the Backyard (a very different venue from the Concourse). B&S are my favorite band, so my review isn't exactly impartial. Still, I did find some negative things to say about my latest B&S concert experience ...
THE GOOD
The Music: You can call them Indy, but then you have to admit that they are 100 times better than almost every other "Indy" band out there. Their opening act, for example, the New Pornographers, was only mildly interesting, but otherwise the typical generic, poppy, college rockesque stuff. B&S, on the other hand, displayed its wide range from slow introspection to electro-pop to whimsical rock. As usual there were more instruments involved than I could identify, but always a solid guitar and Stuart Murdoch's stellar voice.
Stuart Murdoch's Voice: It's metallic, but not cold, and really powerful.
Stuart Murdoch's Gay Dancing: This was the most queer I've ever seen Stuart. He danced playfully about the whole night and made occasional cheeky comments.
The Songs: They played many of the new songs, most importanty Sukie in the Graveyard, We Are the Sleepyheads, and White Collar Boy. Their best performance was Your Covers Blown - which is one of their best from the Books compilation/album. They also pulled off Electronic Renaissance brilliantly, which I don't know that I've ever heard them play live.
Stevie Jackson: He wore this handsome outfit - a suit and tie - and has really taken his place as the number two man in the band.
THE BAD
The Venue: It was really big and just a flat warehouse with a stage at the narrow end. Why couldn't they have put the stage at one of the wide ends, at least that would have made it easier to see the band. I don't think there was any slope in the floor at all. So it is basically a venue for the people that can make it to the front, or the freakishly tall.
The Price: It was $30 a ticket for this crowded flat-fest. There was Bud Light in a small cup for $6.
The Fans: Maybe the price had something to do with it, but I was surprised how annoying many of the fans were. One girl near me kept yelling "Dance Hipsters Dance" really loud when it got quiet. There were indeed hipsters about, which is normal and expected, but there were also a lot of yuppies there and blonde couples that look like they shop at the Gap or something. That surprised me possibly becuase I'd seen them previously in Austin, where even the yuppies like to wear thrift store Western shirts.
No Politics: The band is pretty left. They have a Make Poverty History banner on their website, and they played at an anti G-8 Concert in Scotland a few months ago. With all the nasty things Morrissey is saying about Bush and Blair, I was hoping for at least one silly comment from Stuart with a slight political edge.
3 comments:
hi. i googled "is stuart murdoch gay?" because this one dude told me he was but i'm like naahhh. anyway you're blog site came up and remember how it is the same format as mine and my friends?
That's pretty hilarious. I just googled the same exact thing.
I know that he says that he is straight, but sometimes the dancing really makes me think again.
I'm so glad B&S have stayed away from politics, well that is for the most part have stayed away. The focus of their music is more internal, more concerned with identifying the audience (ie, the famous second person subject) and politics can be so divisive. I don't know if this intentional or not on their part, but I'm glad it's the case.
Stuart is married now! To a woman!
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