We enter the venue to catch the first sounds of Villagers, otherwise known as Conor J. O'Brien. Soon to be travelling to SXSW in Texas and supporting Tindersticks, this part of the year is dedicated to opening for Mr Barlow, who he describes as the second greatest Barlow after Gary!
O'Brien has a strong voice and great guitar work, the thing that annoys me is that he sounds like a well know indie singer and I can not put my finger on it (been trying for 15 hours now, have given up). The Dublin lad is commanding a quiet audience, not many here are speaking over his love songs. 'Home' is a great song, and 'Pieces' and 'Ritual Of The Sea' are also catchy songs. It's the right music for a wintry Sunday evening anyway.
Lou Barlow (former and re-formed bassist of Dinosaur Jr) continues the calm, easy listening with a few of his own solo tracks, and some from Sebadoh, like 'Love Is Stronger' and 'Too Pure', sounding, along with 'Holding Back The Year', absolutely beautiful as slow solo songs. Then Barlow's shoes come off...
He is joined onstage by The Missing Men (without legendary musician Mike Watt) to now add some 'oomph' to the show. Sunday night is now feeling more like a Saturday night! Tom Watson is on hand to swing his white guitar around and play some inspired riffs (they can go off on a little Dino Jr tangent, but not encroach it too much) and Raul 'Rawl' Morales (great name) beats the living crap out of the drums.
Barlow has a few struggles with things. He has removed his big boots to play a bass pedal that resembles a row organ foot pedals, as well as play the guitar. This does not come on as well as he would like, as you have to switch between the two. Then he breaks a string when switching guitars to play some of the heavier tracks like 'Gravitate / One Machine, One Long Fight', which after a while he just leaves to swing from the guitar neck. The crowd laugh along with him however. They thank the sound guy for putting up with them, and Barlow confirms what I said earlier, that he is partially deaf (he could be kidding but after five Dinosaur Jr shows I am on my way to a hearing aid!).
There is melody here surrounded by noise, and Barlow's vocals are only sometimes audible over the guitars from when the band get together. The songs are very short, sharp and to the point, so there is an hour left when the setlist is completed. They then go on to play things they have never played before, but unfortunately I have to leave to catch the sparse Sunday night transport. Sometimes it gets to Sunday night and you wanna chill out before it all turns to crap in the most dreaded morning of the week, but tonight I am truly glad I made the effort to catch this laid back and down to earth band, complete with strings or not.
Holding Back The Year
Love Is Stronger
Too Pure
Take Advantage
Don't Apologize
Home
Sharing
Goodnight Unknown
Too Much Freedom
The One I Call
Praise
Gravitate / One Machine, One Long Fight
Caterpillar Girl
Faith In Your Heartbeat
article by: Danielle Millea
photos by: Danielle Millea
published: 01/02/2010 17:34
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.