came to town last few years, even last month in Camdem, now they are
a headlining band. Last months show at Koko was like a triumphant 2nd
homecoming so I've read and heard - check out the live music archive,
thanks to the tapers :) another social music revolution. But, not
without incident: the Koko stage invasion is now legendary. There was
some expectation about what this follow-up London show would bring.
I think EITS kind of figured this, they went for something a bit
different. A more varied selection of songs, and some new kind of
segways between them.
Mid way to the end...a bit of a slow burning set, I was
thinking....now realising that it's their new set :p - more songs off
the new record like 'Catastrophe And The Cure', 'Welcome Ghosts' and
even 'Its Natural to Be Afraid' including piano which was a new
texture...
The sounds were a bit muddy thats typical of this kind of London
venue, but the playing of EITS is spot on.
I'm wondering if when at full tilt their sound is closest to the kind
of expressway drone of a sonic youth bad moon rising/evol era,
there's not many that got to that kind of 1000 bells tone without
just falling into sludge.
So what about to the fire in the eye? The set lifts for a finale as
we get the classic 'The Only Moment We Were Alone' to fill our
hearts. The heat and intensity rises through the familiar strumming
and melodic intro.
Then the fire starts - literally - just before getting up to full
tilt in the song smoke starts billowing out of Munaf's rented (i
guess) Marshall amp. To the bands disbelief, but quiet amazement, and
the song was halted.
'oh, this was gonna be the last song, anyway.. but i guess thats it'.
I was thinking before in gearhead mind, why he's using a Marshall,
when I associated their sound so much with Fender amps, maybe thats a
karma clue, go back to Fender?
Well a replacement amp was found and 'The Only Moment... lifted up
again, complete with a roused crowd now clapping along...
It was the last moment with EITS for now too, no encores here, so
you have to wait until their next triumphant challenge headling ATP
vs the Fans or a second chance offer on their postponed Manchester gig.
I would say take any take offer and mode of transport to get to see
them.
jimw
[album artist=Explosions in the Sky]All Of a Sudden[/album]
[url=http://www.archive.org]live music archive[/url]
