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
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