Yell and Yell |
Christchurch live music blog |
It is hard to describe in words how seriously good this show was. Like it was just really, really…. nice.
Almost everything about it was perfect.
Panther and the Zoo - http://www.myspace.com/pantherandthezoo
The first band up was Panther and the Zoo. I’d seen Panther and the Zoo earlier in the year and thought it was ok but not.. you know? amazing. And this time it was the same kind of feeling except because of the environment of the concert they worked a lot better. With a slight line up change to the last time I saw them (new drummer borrowed from brunettes to replace one lost to the ruby suns) they were different than before but not better or worse. The singer/songwriter Graham Panther is really cool. His voice is possibly the highlight of the band. Reminiscent of Beirut. Nice and smooth and always in pitch. Hayden East who generally played bass does wicked harmonies and is always spot on pitch wise and is just chilled out all the time. John on the drums was spot on and chances are he only had a few practices before the tour. Everyone seemed to be commenting on how good the drums were, I agreed despite him suffering my worst (regular) nightmare, the sliding forwards of the bass drum. The highlights of the set were always the songs with electric guitar as opposed to the usual acoustic. It just added a lot more interest to the songs I thought. I think as a band they were really good for this particular show rather than a sweaty bar show. James chose very well.
Lawrence Arabia - www.myspace.com/lawrencearabia
The “headline” act Lawrence Arabia (James Milne and band) took EVERYTHING to the next level. Like any musician in Christchurch that hasn’t seen James perform in any of the projects he has been involved in should be punched in the face (if they wear glasses let them take them off first.)I’m terrible with names of songs but the new 5 piece band came on and just started with perfect 4 (possibly 5) part harmonies and it immediately stunned the entire theatre into silence… and kept them that way for the next hour or so. I don’t know how James does it. But he manages to captivate everyone wherever he goes. Even if its just walking past you on the street. You just stand there in stunned silence. Not that I’m a fanboy or anything, it’s just what happens. His music is perfect but not only that his whole philosophy on music/life and manner is perfect. I met him once when I was in highschool I think and I had long hair and terrible sideburns and he introduced himself to me at a gig we were at. I didn’t see him again for about 2 years and I went to a gig in London that he was DJing at and I walked in the door all clean shaven 2 years older and he said “Hey Matt how ya going?”
I don’t know how relevant that is but I think one of the keys to his success is how great he is as a person in general particularly at being everyones best muso friend. He collaborates with everyone and everyone wants to collaborate with him.
Anyway back to the show. They played all the songs everyone wants to hear including the best reduction agents songs I’ve heard played bar by the reduction agents. The new band is his best Lawrence Arabia lineup yet. With a sneaky rhythm section who just crap all over any rhythm section anywhere and even sing perfectly at any point in any song. Hayden from Panther and the Zoo is now in the lineup and appears to have been in it for years, but no second show… he sings in most of the songs and moves around the guitars, bass and keys like a pro. And the new axeman whose name slips my mind (I don’t research) is wicked cool at axe and wicked funny and jokes n shit.
During the first song James and Hayden both broke strings but they managed to turn it into hilarious awkward banter. Hence every bit of the show being perfect. The only downside was the buzz that continued through the whole show. After casual discussion with a certain sound engineering genius I came to the conclusion through his conclusion this must have been due to the in house lighting rig. But with some more sneaky soundwork this was for the most part covered up.
This show will definitely been in my top 10 possibly 5 of the year.. once I figure them all out. If you missed it you should feel like shit because it won’t happen in that setting again. The repertory provided a really intimate setting but in a sophisticated way rather than a drunken party way, which I think is a great contrast from past Lawrence/Reduction Agents gigs I’ve seen. Next time you’ll have to pay more and share the room with a whole lot more people. But it’ll still be worth it. I’ll be there.
Highlight - the whole Lawrence Arabia set. Every single bit. Particularly the slow parts with the Beach Boys esq harmonies finally as good if not better than on the recordings.
Here are some photos taken by Chris Andrews
