UNKLE/Holy Fuck/Walter Meego @ Webster Hall

There were two acts I wanted to see at CMJ, UNKLE and Jack Penate -- every other act would eventually come around again. Similar to last year when The Knife played during CMJ, this incarnation of the James Lavelle project will probably be a one time only engagement. It was either see it now, or never. The reason to see the UNKLE project live is the conversion to live instruments, rather relying on all computers, turntables or other electronics.

It's with deep regret that my honest feelings need to be written in this space -- it was a disappointment. I honestly want to say that it was a mind-blowing experience from one of the most talented and unappreciated DJ/composers in the scene, but I can't. This show sounded awful, mainly because Webster Hall (motto: Oh, we're sorry, did you want hear the music?) sounds just as good as a turd hitting toilet water. I use to brush off criticism of the place thinking that it's not that bad a venue. I've seen some amazing shows there, Rilo Kiley recently for instance. This venue made the music sound one-dimensional and distorted. The live instruments didn't sound any different from the record. I could barely understand the vocals. Even Ian Ashbury, who appears as a quasi-hologram via back-projection, comes off as some background mumbling.

That's one aspect of my disappointment, the other is visually, it was an eye-straining array of strobe lights and flood lights. I'm thinking to myself, "just make it stop." If you're seeing UNKLE on the other stops on the U.S. tour, bring sunglasses. I had never seen so much over-zealousness with lighting. I didn't bring my camera, but it would have just been pictures of white light and darkness with some shadows of musicians. I was off to the side, and I would look over the crowd and see people having a good time while squinting and looking away from the stage.

UNKLE takes pride in having memorable and artistic videos, so you would think the back projection would be something interesting. Not the case, it was mostly colors swirling around. For the encore of "Rabbit in Your Headlights" and "Eye for an Eye," the videos for those songs were played. Why? I know what they look like, give me something different.

I will say that at times during the show, the elements were coming together. The highpoint was "May Day" off the new album, War Stories, with The Duke Spirit's Liela Moss also appearing as a hologram in the back projection. Joel Cadbury of South was present to lend vocals on a few songs, as well as Richard File who was collaborator on War Stories. The other members of the band were introduced but I couldn't understand a word anyone was saying. This show needed subtitles.

One more gripe about the show, then I'll give James some love. I'm sick of the setup of Webster Hall. It's a Thursday night, so it's club night and you can hear the crappy music from downstairs. Thus, it ruins the soft moments of the show when hear BOOM BOOM BOOM from below. Then there are the staff members constantly walking around selling canned bear. Give it a fucking rest! People are dancing, having a great time and some idiot is told to walk in front of people, selling crappy beer and disrupting their good time. It's a distraction and it's got to stop.

Phew, I'm glad I got the bitch fest out of my system. Although this show wasn't to my taste, I still love UNKLE and what James Lavelle does musically and visually. All three albums (and the soundtrack to Sexy Beast) are must-haves if you appreciate well-constructed beats and samples. Not only is his music energizing, it's artistic and dramatic. It's almost an insult just to call it dance music, because that could be construed as music just to get your rocks off. I feel the same way about Massive Attack, it's so much more than electronic music. Even Lavelle's remixes are perfectly honed pieces of enjoyment. I try to snatch up as much as I can of what he does. So when he releases new material, it's a treat being that War Stories is his third album in nine years.

So that's the UNKLE experience, I'm sure yours was different than mine, but it just felt that the live instruments didn't make a difference.

Sorry for the lack of photos, but you're smart enough to look at flickr to see what it looked. I just needed a break from photo taking.

Holy Fuck from Toronto were on the bill. I've seen them before when they opened for Forward Russia! last year. They are fun band to listen to live. They have an interesting groove going for them. The band finds a hook and stays with it while adding various electronic rhythms and sequences. If you like Battles, you'll definitely dig Holy Fuck. They are like the world's only progressive electronic kraut rockers from Canada.

Walter Meego is one of those bands who seems to play three times a day for five days straight during CMJ. I think they might be playing some party right now while I write this. In any event, the duo from Chicago isn't short on head bopping beats. Other bands on the scene right now are doing the Daft Punk tribute band thing -- Datarock, Justice, Chromeo to name drop. Nothing wrong with it, I dig most of it. Meego's cuts and pastes different sounds and styles and makes it their own. While I like their stuff on their EP (full-length is in the works), the crappy Webster Hall sound-system made it sound muddy. It sounded like am SUV playing loud music with the doors closed that you would hear in the middle of the night driving down your street. Ahhhh, what can you do. The kids put on a good time.

Comments

[thechairguy]

You should've gone to Springsteen.

[bob]

I hate everything about Webster Hall.

[Dan]

I love the fact that almost everytime I see a show, I can go to your blog the next day and read your comments. We clearly have similar taste in bands, but I've never commented on your blog before today. (I have Film School, the New P's and Moz next week...you?)

I agree with your recitation of the persistent problems at Webster Hall. Last year, Broken Social Scene totally ranked on the cheesey dance beats coming from below the ballroom.

I liked last night's UNKLE show. I agree that the live performance did not add much when compared to the cds, but then again I am convinced that most of it was pre-recorded (not just the vocals). Still, it was a one-of-a-kind experience and I'm glad I went. War Stories is an excellent cd (better than the last IMHO) and it is unfortunate that it has received such lukewarm reviews. Just hearing the music at a loud volume was sufficient for me. I went to the show with VERY low expectations.

My main disappointment was that UNKLE didn't perform "Nursery Rhyme", which I thought would be a shoe-in given his current sound. I thought it would have made a perfect closer.

[THE MENACE]

Best you stay at home with your CD's mate..... or find yourself a better place to watch or listen from (maybe the centre of the balony near the mix position). Actually.... with your hate of the webster hall.... why bother going out!!!!!!! - YOU TWAT!!!!