Is it a Man? Is it a Band? No It's Bon Iver

Well it's been a great couple of music filled weeks, great concerts, new music to listen to on twitter and more great people to talk to all topped off with a wonderful night watching The Staves and Bon Iver.

This was going to be an interesting night because I've always found I need to be in the right mood for Bon Iver recorded music but I've always been blown away when watching live vids or shows which have always been acoustic or stripped down. With this in mind I had a preconceived idea of what lay before me - a mellow evening of ambient pleasure.........

The Staves started the evening off with a wonderful blend of harmonies and acoustic guitar. I'd not heard any of their music before so was happy to have my eyes(well ears really) opened to their beautifully melodic folk. Sometimes it's nice to go into something blissfully unaware that you're in for a treat. I was transfixed throughout and will definitely be checking out more of their music and the Jools Holland show on Iplayer because apparently by way of some strange magic they were on the show while they were playing live for us ;]

Checkout The Staves here..
http://www.thestaves.com/

Anyway we were right obviously, the night had started on a pleasurable acoustic note and would continue that way surely. But hold on isn't that two drumsets and that seems like a pretty complicated setup with lots of lights are we sure we're at the right gig? On came the biggest band I've seen and there at the front was Justin Vernon so yep we were definitely at the right show. With lights swirling and the kick drums punching holes through our chests we were off lifted into a wonderful musicscape. I dont know about anybody else but I was mesmerized watching the drummers hammering away in unison as the other band members added layer after layer of sound. It was amazing to feel those songs that sound so beautifully simple through a set of headphones on a totally different scale and seeing how complex they are to recreate live.

Crowd interactions were few and far between but it was funny to see Justin repsonding to someone shouting out Bon like it was his first name. He introduced the rest of the band as the Ivers with a wry smile on his face. To be fare to the outburst I remember seeing him for the first time on Jools Holland being introduced as Bon Iver and then on videos with an ensemble but nothing really prepared me for the Behemoth that was set out before us. It would have been pretty funny if they would have all shouted back What!(maybe the picture in my head is funnier than the reality would have been ;]).

My preconceived ideas were blown out of the water any way because this was like seeing a Prog Rock extravaganza. It was all encompassing to the senses and a truly great experience. I said in a tweet that 'Gig' was too crass a word for this and it is. Bon Iver put on a 'Concert' and I recommend you go see them if it's still possible.

You can go find everything for Bon Iver here
http://boniver.org/

The Four Horsewomen of The Apocalypse - Katzenjammer

It was foretold they were coming to rid the world of crap stereotyped music.

They sent their Herald Ben Caplan to pave the way and by the time they arrived there was nothing we could do but embrace the music...........

Talking bollocks aside I was really looking forward to this concert. I first heard Anne Marit Bergheim
,Marianne Sveen, Solveig Heilo and Turid Jørgensen or Katzenjammer on an Internet radio show hosted by Brian Player a few months back. The song playing was Rock-Paper-Scissors I found myself humming it for the next week. From there I checked out live performances on youtube and by this time my 10 year old daughter was singing their songs around the house. So we decided this would be her first concert but unfortunately it turned out it was over 14's only so it ended being a night out for me and my much better half with a very sulky 10 year old left with the family(Not to worry we bought her a T-Shirt and she's going to see The Black Keys in December - Phew!!! I'm off the hook).

Anyway back to the evening Katzenjammer's Herald had done a fine job it was time for them to deliver the crushing blow and finally deliver us into musical Nirvana. They took the audience by the balls looked them in the eye and said you are paying attention aren't you. Once they got their resounding reply they proceeded to keep the place buzzing with energy. Every song they changed position taking a different instrument each time and changing lead vocals showing the amazing depth of their talent. Each time someone different came to the fore to lead the band they asserted their control over the ever attentive audience, it was truly wonderful to see. It wasn't just their abilities to play everything on the stage that was amazing (i reckon they could have played the mic stand if they wanted to) the songs covered a wide range of genres from Folk - Pop - Blues - Rock n Roll amongst others.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better they stripped it all back with the A cappella Gods Great Dust Storm a beautifully powerful blend of their harmonies. The tempo went back up for the last song leaving everyone in a jumping, singing, dancing mood. Woo Hoo!

Their conquest was complete Manchester has been delivered from crap music and they continue leaving a trail of good times in their wake........

So go forth and find tickets so that you feel the awesome power of The Four Horsewomen Of The Apocalypse.
If there's none left go check out the wonderful 'A Kiss Before You Go' album

http://www.katzenjammer.no/

It just leaves me to say Please Thankyou Very Much (Just being polite! :] )

Canadian Thunder - Ben Caplan

Now I normally post the blog entry for support and headline together but I enjoyed this gig so much from start to end that I thought I should just do two entries so here goes...

We positioned ourselves near the sound control board in what was the smallest venue we've been too in a while wondering what was in store. We hadn't heard any of Ben Caplan's music because we'd booked the tickets on the strength of Katzenjammers live reputation and albums. The club was dark with just a rainbow of lights to point our eyes to, the Canadian mist rolled in and a shape appeared on the stage. I was trying to make it out but when I heard the deep rumbling roar I realised it was a Lion with bad eyes, it must have been I could see the outline of its mane and glasses.

If there was any doubt in anyones mind as to whether they were going to enjoy Ben Caplan it was soon dispelled maybe it's his deep tones that start involuntary spasms but everyone was moving and whooping straight away. It was obvious he was pulling out all the stops to get the crowd on his side straight away as he had already discovered Manchester's super power of Projectile Vomiting and no one wants to invoke the wrath of The Spew ;]

As he growled and wailed the crowd responded by stomping, nodding, singing and chanting along and I've not seen the first act of the night get people that involved for a long time. Safe to say I was hooked enjoying every strum and rumble, joining in as we all became backing singers or the bass or the drum.
Basically it felt like Ben Caplan kicked down the saloon door stood as a silhouette in the doorway and shouted come on fuckers I dare you not to like me..... we all knew when were beaten.

I'm listening to his album as I write this and I can almost feel the sweaty, close, foot stomping atmosphere from last night all over again and anything that triggers memories like that has got to be great.

So firstly if there's any tickets left for any show he's doing get them quick and then use his album as an audio memoir of the night Ben Caplan revealed your super power and then stomped you into submission.

You can get your fix of Ben Caplan here
http://bencaplan.ca/

Still on the tip of my tongue. The Civil Wars Part Deux

Well if you've managed to read the first installment way back in March you will already know I have been to see The Civil Wars earlier this year and was mightily impressed with their haunting melodies but this was going to be a wonderful opportunity to see them in a more suitable setting The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. So the bar had been set pretty high by that first encounter would they be able to match it or even surpass it???

On entering the Hall it had the feel of an old picture house(Or cinema to anyone not old enough to remember when GR8 was spelt Great ;] ). We quickly found our seats just before The Lumineers strolled onto the stage. It almost seemed accidental as they wandered to their positions while Fleetwood Macs greatest hits continued to blare out. They lined up as a 5 piece as the hall went quiet. Cello, Kick drum , Acoustic Guitar, Bass and Keyboards at the ready they started the nights musical journey. You could almost feel the relief as everyone realised they were going to be great or GR8. It's always going to be a thankless task getting a British audience to participate when they're sat in the comfort of a chair staring at the stage with a face that says go on then impress me. That said The Lumineers rose to the challenge and the audience went from stony faced to clapping to chanting. They were engaging and energetic in their performance and commanded your attention from beginning to end. I always like seeing an artist doing the stamping on ants dance and I reckon from the wriggling that was going on some of them must of got up the singers trouser leg, he was feeling every beat of the bar and so was the stage ;] You need to check these guys and gal out and you can go here to chant along to the same song we were chanting on the night..... Ho........Hey.......

http://thelumineers.com/


Everyone nicely warmed up it was the time of reckoning were The Civil Wars going to be as good as last time?
From the first pluck of John Paul White's guitar string I knew it was going to be so much better. Joy Williams voice called out to us like a mermaid and we were shipwrecked with them for the next couple of hours powerless against their all enveloping harmonies. The venue definitely helped because not having to fight to keep my feet and glance over weaving heads meant all my attention was focused on their performance and I could allow my ears to be caressed feeling every rise and fall in the voices. It was wonderful to watch as John Paul's mouth made short staccato movements as he added vibrato to his vocal notes and Joy Willams arms fluidly painting their musical picture. I knew others around me were enjoying the performance just as much when the notes of 20 years rang out and there was an audible sigh of pleasure from people around me as if they were taking the first bite out of their favourite dessert.

Having watched them again I feel going to see The Civil Wars is like going to see a great work of art in a gallery. Some things should be observed and appreciated and hopefully applause at the end of each song is interaction enough. Don't get me wrong I like the visceral energy of a rock concert ala Pearl Jam earlier this year but The Civil Wars music just doesn't need any outside influence it stands alone in it's simplistic beauty.

And if you're not sure after that whether I enjoyed The Civil Wars at The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall just ask my wife who was not impressed when I tried to wake her up at 1am to tell her how wonderful it was.

So go and buy Barton Hollow the album, download the free Live at Eddie's Attic and then if you can find tickets for them playing Live you should treat yourself. Go on you know you deserve it........

http://thecivilwars.com