Everybody needs to come up for some Air now and then. One of the most outstanding duos of the past decade took the stage last night to bring forth their brand of space age bachelor pad music. For those who saw their 2004 Talkie Walkie tour, the show was almost a mirror image of those performances. By looking at the setlist you'd think they were promoting that album and not their latest, Pocket Symphony.
Oh, Bowie was there. I missed him by two minutes by the media entrance. Figures.
The setlist:
- Radian
- Venus
- Once Upon a Time
- Napalm Love
- Talisman
- Cherry Blossom Girl
- Run
- Remember
- People in the City
- Mer Du Japon
- Photograph
- Don't Be Light
- Kelly Watch the Stars
- Encore: Alone in Kyoto
- Sexy Boy
- La Femme d'Argant
It's a pretty balanced setlist, with four tracks from the new album sprinkled in with their crowd pleasing favorites. I was stoked that they busted out "Kelly Watch the Stars," my favorite song from them. If you remember their concert DVD: "Zis iz a song aboat zee most boo-ti-full girl in zee world. Kel-eeee." I have a bootleg for a 1998 show, where Godin says, "This is a song about bay-bees (long pause) we like bay-bees." No such unintentionally funny moments tonight. The Frenchies in white keep it cool.
This being my third time seeing Air, I'm kind of half-complaining, half-pleased that it was going through the same territory, but I was hoping for some different takes on their old stuff. They did amp up the tempo with "People in the City," which at mid-section was an all out blitz of synths and drums. "Don't Be Light," also had a little more edge to it. In all, when they revisit some tracks off of Moon Safari, I leave a happy man. When I saw them in Philly in 2004, they ended with La Femme and I remembered that it was possibly one of most mind-bending songs I've ever heard live. It's just a free form cosmic jam with deep bass lines and all these keyboard and knob turning bleeps. Tonight, when they took their final bow, those programmed screeches echoed through the whole hall. It's like the ending of a worm hole ride.
Moon Safari, flat out, one of my favorite albums of all time and a landmark and influential album in popular music. They took 70s lite-funk, added some moog keyboards, made it trippy and romantic, gave it an ethereal quality and most of all, made it sound cool, clean and unique. You gotta it hand it to Godin and Dunckel, they don't follow the trends. Each album is different from the previous ones. Sometimes it works, others ... not so much.
Moon Safari -- masterpiece. Virgin Suicides -- powerfully dark and mysterious. 10,000hz legend -- a misstep, but some tracks I've grown to like (People in the City, Don't Be Light). Talkie Walkie -- brilliantly poppy and accessible. Their new release, Pocket Symphony -- I wanna like it, in due time I will. I listened to it the first time and tuned it out. I really liked "Mer Du Japon," it sits nicely into your headphones as a good groovy tune. The rest of the album seems not to go anyway. I want to see the band get all glammy and dynamic on a record, like their live act. They were nearly there with Talkie, especially "Alpha Beta Gaga."
Back to the show ... like with The Shins, the Theatre @ MSG is a tough room. I got general admission and could stand without being yelled at. I looked behind me, everyone in their seats were seating. I would go nuts not being able just to move a bit. From the floor, you get the whole light show experience with the Close Encounters style lighting background. Granted, the guys aren't rock star performers, they just stand in place and do their thing, but the music they put out makes you want to move sometimes.
In all, I will always see Air when they are in town. Not to get personal, but they provided the soundtrack to many points in my life, and seeing them is a pleasure.
Speaking of pleasure, check out my sweet pictures.
TV on the Radio played a short, acoustic set. I've said it before, I don't think they are a bad band at all, it just not something I would choose to listen to. It's like music you study to figure out the styles they are merging together. It's like some gospel-soul mixed with experimental alt-country, indie rock. Their set was a stripped-down, low key affair. If you're into those dissonant quiet, slow indie rock improv sets, than you would have liked it. I wasn't so much digging it, but I did appreciated Tunde Adebimpe vocal styles. Of course, Kyp Malone, the best facial hair in music. That beard can command an army.
I got in for the last few songs from Kate Havnevik. Her album, Melankton, is sitting in my "to listen to" pile. From what I heard tonight, it's all Bjork-like and stuff. It's pretty obvious that she sounds like her.
nice shots. i was right up there too :)
wish i could get a press pass.
Posted by: pam | May 11, 2007 at 01:02 PM