[...music...]

2009-10-02

the popmontreal fest is taking place now. last night i went to the mono show at cabaret latulipe. it was my first time seeing them, having missed them every time they were in montreal in the past. i went alone; i can't believe my mom still freaks out about me going to shows by myself.

i went to the venue early, and got a good spot. front and centre.

the opening band was maserati. kind of typical post-rock, but with a touch of prog? i really liked it. i had thought they were loud; but it turned out they were just a warm-up compared to mono.

i'm not too familiar with their material, so not sure what their setlist was. but the highlight for me was definitely "show me the season", especially the drumming at the end. here's a taste from an other show.

i was introduced to mono by a fellow mogwai fan (thanks dude!). since i had missed a couple of the past shows in montreal, i had gotten their dvd "the sky remains the same as ever" as consolation. instead, it made me feel bad, since their live set looks incredibly awesome. this time, i was determined to attend the show (by the way, if i had not left the job, i would have been out of town this week...).

what can i say? on record, mono sound epic. live, the experience is even more intense. their tracks usually start off pretty mellow. then there's the slow buildup, so gradual, that eventually, it becomes a noise explosion and you wonder how it all started.

this band is so cool. as in, their music is perfect for winter, when everything is covered in white. it seemed fitting that i was seeing them live on one of the first cold days of this fall season. they also seem so cool that they're in their own zone on stage. no chit-chat between songs; notice the absence of a mic.

my favourite part was during "yearning", when it all went quiet, then the sudden noise explosion, like getting punched in the stomach, followed by several minutes of aural assault. awesome. i don't know to else to describe it. it's one of those things you need to be there to experience for yourself.

setlist:
ashes in the snow
burial at sea
follow the map
pure as snow
yearning
the battle to heaven
halo
everlasting light

~~~

cd purchases: i got the mono albums that i was missing "under the piapl tree" and "walking cloud and deep red sky...". i also got a maserati album "inventions for the new season".

hearing damage: i was prepared, and bought earplugs for this show. i wore them for about half a song when i remembered why i never wear earplugs at shows: i hate the muffled sound. it's bad, i know, but i'd rather hear everything even if it means letting my ears get blasted.

~~~

Labels: cd purchase, latulipe, maserati, mono, popmontreal, shows

2006-05-29

imogen heap @ latulipe

apparently, the show sold out. i was a bit surprised; i didn't realise that imogen heap had such a following here. it could be because she's had some songs on the o.c.

at the beginning of the show, the lovely imogen heap said a few words and introduced the opening act, zoë keating, a solo cellist. zoë keating used loops to create layers of music, making it sound like multiple stringed instruments were playing. her set was really good, purely instrumental, with beautiful songs. only one problem: she was sitting on a creaking chair (a minor annoyance).

next was imogen heap, coiffed in a big hairdo, with feathers and leaves. she began her set with an a capella version of "just for now", complete with hand claps and fingers snaps. afterwards, she introduced us to her "band"; she basically described her instruments and the various sound effects she can produce.

almost all the songs were from her solo album "speak for yourself". she played one old song that i did not recognise (i don't know any of her old material). she played one frou frou song, "let go", of course. she played her hit "hide and seek" near the end, just before the encore. during the encore, she covered "hallelujah", a capella, with no effects, just voice and nothing else. it was great.

i really liked that she played her songs differently than on the record; it made the music sound fresh. in the middle of the set, zoë keating came back out to play some accompanying cello on "speeding cars" and "headlock".

imogen heap talked a lot between songs; it was nice. a good interaction with the crowd (who obviously adored her). there were a couple of mistakes throughout the set, which she laughed off and the audience cheered on. she was really adorable.

she mentioned she may be back in november. i would definitely go see her again.

overall, i had a wonderful time tonight. walking into the venue, i did not expect much. so i was pleasantly surprised at how amazing the show turned out to be. i also met a bunch of new people through a friend.

~~~

cd purchase: after her set, a bunch of us got a copy of zoë keating's "one cello x 16: natoma". it was selling fast.

hearing damage: none at all. the music was absolutely lovely.

~~~

Labels: cd purchase, imogen heap, latulipe, shows, zoë keating