Photographs by Lucy Johnston. Taken in London March ’08.
The Brudenell is the perfect little venue for live gigs. Its charming, phoenix nights esque appearance makes it a homely place to watch a band. They do attract some of the best bands around to their little setting. Tonight its Dead Meadow. I’ve been wanting to see these guys for a looong time, but kept missing their shows. But tonight it’s on!
Supported firstly by Leeds locals Red Stars Parade who are a metal outfit in a similar vein to Converge, but without the terror. There’s huge pile driving riffs and the lead singer rips his throat apart screaming his messages but I feel there’s something missing. A great live band, no doubt, but these guys are lacking some originality so it becomes a tad generic. Second support are Kong, they certainly are the weirdest band on show tonight by far. Wearing masks similar to the Nixon ones worn by Nirvana in the original ‘In Bloom’ video (long winded reference I know). Anyways they looked freaky. Their schizoid math punk was fiery and full of venom and their arrangements were odd which made for decent viewing, but the lead singer was trying a little too hard to go down the Mike Patton vocal nightmare route – and he ain’t that good!
Dead Meadow came to the stage with an unassuming rouse. Coincidentally there’s nothing particularly interesting to say about their set other than they’re tight, their drummer looks cooler than any classic stoner from the seventies (he beats the Kings Of Leons old do’s hands down!), and singer/guitarist Jason Simon can rip it up on the solos. But there really isn’t much energy to their show. Yeah they play ‘Greensky Greenlake’ which makes me happy, but they put little or nothing into it. Maybe this is the new blasé rock cool. If you look like you ain’t really bothered then people will get down. Well I didn’t get down! If you want me to get down you got ta get down, and Meadow, you didn’t get down!
Failure to inspire – Check!
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Having seen this band play quite a few times, I can tell you each and every time I’ve seen them play a storming set… I couldn’t give a fuck if they looked excited to be there or not – once they start playing they slay.
I’d be willing to admit this may be my lucky experience and they were having a bad night in Leeds but as you say they played a tight set with Stephen and Jason doing what they do best (although Steve usually goes for it so I’m surprised he got no mention) – so apart from them not grinning at the audience like idiots I don’t know what was expected really.
Energy – There was no energy… i got bored. Simple as that. A good gig to me isn’t just a band who comes out and plays their songs note for note, there’s gotta be something else to make it great. I’m not saying a band has to play a great gig every show, but put some heart and soul into it…
This time unfortunately,
There wasn’t anything!
:)