Who: Death Cab for Cutie with Low
When: April 24, 2012
Where: Kleinhan's Music Hall/ Buffalo, NY
With: Christine
Of Note: Sitting down at a concert is weird
Like all good preppy mcprepsters, I "discovered" Death Cab through the one and only Seth Cohen. The OC's use of 'A Lack of Color' was all I needed to hear to become a casual fan. (Also, my high school friend Andrea used to post their lyrics as AIM away messages all the time.) When I read that they were playing at Kleinhan's - home of the Buffalo Philharmonic - I was intrigued. Why would an an alternative (?) band be playing there instead of Town Ballroom or something? I solicited a partner in crime - Christine - and off we went.
The opening band was called Low. Some mid-concert wikipedia-ing determined that they considered themselves a 'slowcore' band. First, what on earth is that? Second, why does it sound like music that is only good for one of two things - getting super stoned (not that I would know) or killing yourself very slowly (again, not that I would know). I was not a huge fan. They told some story about how they were planning on having a hot wing challenge on the bus that night and they sang, "tonight you will be mine," to the wings. They sang a song about having a murderer do your dirty work. And another one about a Nightingale crying about a dead monkey? I don't know; my notes are a bit cryptic. Mostly, it just sounded very sad. Very, very sad.
OH! I almost forgot - prior to the concert, Christine & I grabbed a drink at the little bar in Kleinhan's. In the room, there was a girl there with her mom dressed in a full on Warblers costume. I was so second-hand embarrassed for her, just in general. Like, sweetie, is there nobody in your life to tell you that's ridiculous?
Okay, back to the concert.
Well, actually, before I get to the concert, I have to note how weird it is to sit down for a "band" show. Like, not that this music is particularly dance-able (and the Kleinhan's seats are super nice and plush), but it seemed weird to sit down through it. But, that's what everyone did, for the whole concert (with the exception of a couple of people in the middle of the theater who stood up a couple of times during, what I assume, were their favorite songs). I don't think people would have been opposed to standing it's just that... nobody did? It was weird.
Okay, now for the actual concert.
I feel like it was not too long before this show that Ben Gibbard's divorce was announced. He did not seem to be bothered. He told a bunch of fun stories - one about how the last time they were in Buffalo, they played at a pirate ship venue (I have wracked my brain and cannot for the life of me figure out where this might be - help me out Buffalonians?). He also noted that more of their gigs should have ushers (shout out to the Kleinhan's staff!), which turned into a joke about how more of their shows need Usher. (Which, I mean, can't most things use more Usher?)
(Aside: There was some joke about 'Syracuse University's Most Famous Drop Out', per my notes. I don't remember the gist. I was doing some wikapedia-ing just now to see if Ben Gibbard went to SU? No, he didn't. BUT, I had no idea he was also behind The Postal Service! No clue. Man, I love the song 'Clark Gable' so much.)
The music was good. I'm much less familiar with Codes and Keys than some of their older albums, so those songs were new. The reason the show was at Kleinhan's was because they were touring with the Magik*Magik Orchestra - there was a full string section on stage with the band. The arrangements weren't orchestral - or that varied from the album versions - but they were much fuller, richer. The strings really augmented the wistful/longing vibe of the majority of the set - as did the lighting: all moody blues and reds and purples. Probably the coolest use of the string section was in the introduction of 'Soul Meets Body' - it was a long intro that featured a whole lot of pizzicato string plucking that was really freaking cool.
I was really excited to hear (probably) what everyone else was excited to hear: 'Grapevine Fires' is one of my favorite songs; I think the melody is so, so beautiful (though the lyrics, at face value, are so sad). There was an unexpected syncopated ending featuring the strings that was a treat. 'Underneath the Sycamore', the set closing 'Stay Young, Go Dancing', and 'Your Heart Is An Empty Room' were all stand-outs.
They played less of an 'encore' and more of an 'abbreviated second set' - playing seven songs after the break. 'I Will Follow You Into the Dark' was definitely the encore highlight - another song that makes you feel the emotion with every syllable.
Overall, it was a cool experience - I've never seen an orchestra play with a band like this - and it was definitely different.
When: April 24, 2012
Where: Kleinhan's Music Hall/ Buffalo, NY
With: Christine
Of Note: Sitting down at a concert is weird
Like all good preppy mcprepsters, I "discovered" Death Cab through the one and only Seth Cohen. The OC's use of 'A Lack of Color' was all I needed to hear to become a casual fan. (Also, my high school friend Andrea used to post their lyrics as AIM away messages all the time.) When I read that they were playing at Kleinhan's - home of the Buffalo Philharmonic - I was intrigued. Why would an an alternative (?) band be playing there instead of Town Ballroom or something? I solicited a partner in crime - Christine - and off we went.
The opening band was called Low. Some mid-concert wikipedia-ing determined that they considered themselves a 'slowcore' band. First, what on earth is that? Second, why does it sound like music that is only good for one of two things - getting super stoned (not that I would know) or killing yourself very slowly (again, not that I would know). I was not a huge fan. They told some story about how they were planning on having a hot wing challenge on the bus that night and they sang, "tonight you will be mine," to the wings. They sang a song about having a murderer do your dirty work. And another one about a Nightingale crying about a dead monkey? I don't know; my notes are a bit cryptic. Mostly, it just sounded very sad. Very, very sad.
OH! I almost forgot - prior to the concert, Christine & I grabbed a drink at the little bar in Kleinhan's. In the room, there was a girl there with her mom dressed in a full on Warblers costume. I was so second-hand embarrassed for her, just in general. Like, sweetie, is there nobody in your life to tell you that's ridiculous?
Okay, back to the concert.
Well, actually, before I get to the concert, I have to note how weird it is to sit down for a "band" show. Like, not that this music is particularly dance-able (and the Kleinhan's seats are super nice and plush), but it seemed weird to sit down through it. But, that's what everyone did, for the whole concert (with the exception of a couple of people in the middle of the theater who stood up a couple of times during, what I assume, were their favorite songs). I don't think people would have been opposed to standing it's just that... nobody did? It was weird.
Okay, now for the actual concert.
I feel like it was not too long before this show that Ben Gibbard's divorce was announced. He did not seem to be bothered. He told a bunch of fun stories - one about how the last time they were in Buffalo, they played at a pirate ship venue (I have wracked my brain and cannot for the life of me figure out where this might be - help me out Buffalonians?). He also noted that more of their gigs should have ushers (shout out to the Kleinhan's staff!), which turned into a joke about how more of their shows need Usher. (Which, I mean, can't most things use more Usher?)
(Aside: There was some joke about 'Syracuse University's Most Famous Drop Out', per my notes. I don't remember the gist. I was doing some wikapedia-ing just now to see if Ben Gibbard went to SU? No, he didn't. BUT, I had no idea he was also behind The Postal Service! No clue. Man, I love the song 'Clark Gable' so much.)
The music was good. I'm much less familiar with Codes and Keys than some of their older albums, so those songs were new. The reason the show was at Kleinhan's was because they were touring with the Magik*Magik Orchestra - there was a full string section on stage with the band. The arrangements weren't orchestral - or that varied from the album versions - but they were much fuller, richer. The strings really augmented the wistful/longing vibe of the majority of the set - as did the lighting: all moody blues and reds and purples. Probably the coolest use of the string section was in the introduction of 'Soul Meets Body' - it was a long intro that featured a whole lot of pizzicato string plucking that was really freaking cool.
I was really excited to hear (probably) what everyone else was excited to hear: 'Grapevine Fires' is one of my favorite songs; I think the melody is so, so beautiful (though the lyrics, at face value, are so sad). There was an unexpected syncopated ending featuring the strings that was a treat. 'Underneath the Sycamore', the set closing 'Stay Young, Go Dancing', and 'Your Heart Is An Empty Room' were all stand-outs.
They played less of an 'encore' and more of an 'abbreviated second set' - playing seven songs after the break. 'I Will Follow You Into the Dark' was definitely the encore highlight - another song that makes you feel the emotion with every syllable.
Overall, it was a cool experience - I've never seen an orchestra play with a band like this - and it was definitely different.
Magik*Magik Orchestra
Ooooh, mood lighting!
NPR's "All Songs Considered" recently called Low good music to pull the covers of your head to, or something like that.
ReplyDeleteI'm annoyed because I listened to that episode again looking for the exact quote, typed it up, then accidentally closed the tab and Chrome ate it up.
Pull the covers up over your head to?
ReplyDeleteI hate when the internet eats things.