Well, I just saw a fantastic show. Robyn Guthrie(formerly of the Cocteau Twins) and Brendan Perry(formerly of Dead Can Dance). It was at Bimbo's 365 which I have not been inside of in years. Tasha and I had trouble finding a seat as they were all half full or reserved. I figured screw it-lets have a drink-rum and coke for me, Lemon Drop for Tasha-and just go stand near the front, which we did. It turned out to be a good call-we were right inside the PA stacks booming and just got the stage monitor sound so everything sounded crisp, clear and warm rather than over amplified mush. Bimbos is a nice place to see shows of this size and the place was perfect.
Even after all these years both of these guys still possess immense talent-and in the case of Brendan Perry, an absolutely stunning voice. Robyn played several tracks off his newest album Carousel-starting with 'Some Sort of Paradise' spiced with a few songs from EPs and then encored with the title track from 'Imperial.' It was a short set but nicely balanced with elements of his newer, more intense material as well as prettier, more ambient pieces. Not earth shattering but a beautiful warm up for Brendan Perry.
Drawing from a larger palette of work, Brendan came with a full band-including Lawrence O'Keefe (previously with my heroes Felt, Primal Scream and many others) on Bass. Brendan opened his set with 'Black Sun' off "Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun"-a favorite of mine. though he didn't play anything off his first solo album he played a good portion of the new record "Ark" including 'This Boy', 'Utopia' and 'Wintersun' as well as DCD chestnuts 'Severance', 'Adversity' and 'In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated' from the very first DCD EP "Garden of the Arcane Delights'. He also treated us to three new songs including one called "Icarus" which I would love to hear recorded and a traditional New Zealand folk song that no one probably could understand(though raised in Australia and Ireland, Perry is a native of NZ).
I could not get over how great his voice sounds-this rich, booming baritone-after listening to someone sing for the better part of 30 years you would expect some decline in tone and quality but he sounds just as good now and when I saw then back in the 1980's. Incredibly soulful and earthy and his songwriting and solo work just keeps getting better. Hopefully he won't wait 12 years between albums this time around-clearly he is writing new songs so keep your fingers crossed. I am. As a real treat he invited Robyn out to play on a beautiful cover of Tim Buckley's 'Song To The Siren' a song he himself had covered as part of the 'This Mortal Coil' supergroup. You could just about hear everyone's little inner goth kid wet their pants. Completely and totally mesmerizing.
A big, big superfan thank you to the Fabulous Miss Westmore for suggesting the concert and kindly paying for the tickets. I think this was one of the best live music shows I have seen in a long while-literally a dream ticket that I would have given my left nut for back in the day-though they never could have toured together back then anyway. Better late than never! we both had a blast.
peevs: Drunks: after listening to him holler "WHOOOO!!" before and after every song RIGHT in my ear for ALL of Robyn's set and using my shoulder as a bumper for his sweaty head while he drunkenly gyrated and generally made an ass out of himself-I got irritated. Or the stupid young guy in front of us who spent the entire concert texting the most banal messages, taking pictures(not allowed) and filming video(also not allowed). You know...as bad as you want to break the rules and ignore the artist's rights to control their image and material doesn't give you the right to stick your fucking iphone in my face every few seconds to get that 'awesome shot'-you know the one-the one you JUST twittered to your other friend about two seconds after taking it?
What stupid fucking assholes...I have put up with entitled people like this at shows for YEARS-now they just have cellphones instead of overheated little goth girlfriends that complain about my height. After I felt Mr. drunk Asian guys hands drifting around my ass and my back pockets-and after I finally had to grab both his hands and remove them from around my waist-yes really-I not very politely told him "keep your fucking hands off of me-just because you are drunk doesn't mean you can do whatever you want!" While I didn't even want to look over in his direction after that, Tasha noted that he made a point of stepping away from me so whatever! It worked for me. Both rude short Asian guys...not sure what that was about. Even with the above annoyances this show was a highpoint. So glad we were able to go! Thanks Tash!
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