Donnerstag, 7. Apr 2011, 23:08

Wed 6 Apr – Explosions in the Sky, Low, Eluvium @ Radio City Music Hall

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5598936909_5cf707aa04.jpg

Yesterday was my first visit to Radio City Music Hall. The landmark venue is well know for its beauty and excellent sound. So I had two things to look forward to. I must say I was slightly disappointed with my first Explosions In The Sky gig at Central Park Summerstage. Past the usual limitations of an outdoor venue, the place was filled with talking idiots and they also played for just an hour, we all know that equals to about 4 songs in the post-rock world. Never mind that. It's a new year, a new album, new things.

Eluvium opened around 8pm - to a mostly empty hall - with a brief and beautiful piano set that relied mostly on his piano-driven album An Accidental Memory In The Case of Death. He was shortly followed by Low whose minimalistic music that reverberated in "slowcore" fashion. I was seated right in the center, in the first mezzanine, where things sounded really on key. Both good opening sets.

By the time Explosions In The Sky took the stage the place was pretty much packed. What a delight! There were some introductory "thank you!" words followed by a relentless onslaught of sheer powerful awesomeness. From the opening song the sound part of RCMH's fame immediately made itself clear…. and I mean almost crystal clear. I think I heard an eyelash hit the ground during a "quiet" bit.

They opened with Postcard From 1952, one of my current highlights from their latest album Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. Yes, I must take the opportunity to come clean: I have already "previewed" the album. I usually skip these previews but they forced my hand with this gig! I am simply the kind of person who enjoys knowing the songs the band will likely play live and in this case proved to be an excellent move because almost half the songs were new.

Because the album has not been officially released, people were more excited to listen to the "hits", enter The Birth and Death of the Day. A perfect song to test the EITS dynamics in the venue, the reverb intro made the dust particle shake off the floor and the second part sounded so majestic that I couldn't contain a little tear of joy from streaming down - I am not exaggerating here.

The biggest predicament for post-rock fans continues to be "when should I clap?". You must be familiar with the internal struggle: "Whoa! I recognize that intro is from one of those songs I love!" to "that part was amazing, it deserves an ovation on its own merit, BUT there's a delicate outro to this song that's simply beautiful". This struggle was very clear during oldie Yasmin the Light. Sadly, they did not play Greet Death as they did in Central Park.

And so the night continued between delicate build-ups and ecstatic breakdowns. Every grandiose guitar meltdown translated into a huge grin plastered on my face. There was a great one-two punch with newbie Last Known Surroundings and golden classic The Only Moment We Were Alone, one of their most awe-inspiring songs. It sounded absolutely mind-blowing! It felt like it reverberated all the way to my bones. Whoa!

My only minor, really more like miniscule, complain was that I felt some of the wall of sound bits were just a little, teeny bit, too loud. Geez, look at me. Am I getting old already?! Don't know but I just felt that it could have sounded a bit clearer had it been turned down half a notch. It was more apparent during closer Trembling Hands. But again, really a very minor thing.

It was truly an unforgettable experience to see them play such a famed venue, just try not to think about them being followed by a Charlie Sheen "comedy" show. The only downside is that we will probably have to wait a while before they come back to the city. It will be hard to top this one, I would recommend they play Six Days At The Bottom Of The Ocean next time. That might please me.

Let Me Back In
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orJOb4HDPTU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXFU0qSbuGg

Your Hand In Mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmJE4NbJ5qs

The Only Moment We Were Alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxlrcgcaS0g

EITS Setlist
Postcard From 1952
The Birth and Death of the Day
Yasmin the Light
Last Known Surroundings
The Only Moment We Were Alone
Catastrophe and the Cure
Let Me Back In
Your Hand in Mine
Trembling Hands

Low Setlist
Try To Sleep
You See Everything
Silver Rider
Witches
Especially Me
Nightingale
Nothing But Heart