09/24/2008
OMFG: My Bloody Valentine 2008 Tour! (Part 3): Show Review
Ah, the day had finally come. The day when these ears would FINALLY bare witness to a once unlikely live performance by 80s/90s shoegaze pioneers My Bloody Valentine. (read part 1 of this story here and part 2 here) Yes, the seminal Irish band would be appearing in front of me at The Roseland Ballroom in NYC, in the flesh, to continue their recent reclamation as "the loudest band on earth."
Needless to say, the anticipation and excitement couldn't have been greater. With long time favorites The Lilys on the bill, my thoughts journeyed back to 1996 - a time when these two bands were at the center of my music universe and seeing them together was merely a pipe dream. Now it would become a reality.
Despite my general enthusiasm for the bill, the nostalgia began to dissipate as The Lilys wrapped up their entertaining, yet mediocre sounding set. Nevertheless, it was time to prepare myself for the main event. I had read reviews of recent shows, I was well-versed in the band's folk-lore. Ear plugs? Check. Good friends close by? Check. Drink in hand? Check.
The band took the stage, thanked everyone for coming and then...IT HIT, like a gigantic monster crashing to the ground. The building shook and the crowd gasped as the band broke into "I Only Said". A multitude of bright lights bounced and flickered while the massive screen behind them displayed jarring, repetitive graphics. This intensity would continue for the next hour leaving few chances for the audience to regain mental stability.
The one-hour show was a great mix of material, including my personal favorites "Soon" and "When You Sleep," which sounded incredible! The one drawback, however, was that, in general, the vocals were almost entirely drowned out by the music. Then again one can't expect anything so delicate to survive underneath such a barrage of earth-shattering noise.
My friend Mike compared the 20-minute, mind-numbing "holocaust section" of the closing song "You Made Me Realise," to "being inside of a jet engine while simultaneously experiencing a category 5 hurricane." Seriously, check out this video clip I took of the guy standing next to me. That says it all.
Yes, I can safely say it was one of the most mind-blowing shows I have ever seen. No, I didn't have a spiritual or religious experience, like some have claimed, but I was left feeling drained and completely bewildered. There may never be another live show as intense and as beautiful as that of My Bloody Valentine.
You can check out pics from the show and the set list over at Brooklyn Vegan and rifle through the low-grade vids on YouTube, but man this is just one show you have to see to believe.
Posted by Michael on 09/24/2008 1:25 PM in WTF?, Shoegaze, Live Review, Events
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