M83 @ Bowery Ballroom: They Own the Sky

M83, the other spacey French electronic band, returned to the Bowery stage to put a trance on New York like only they could. While I whole-heartily endorse all of the work that the outfit has produced, I can only say that the live show contains 25% awesomeness and 75% okay-ness.

The setlist:

• Run Into Flowers
• Graveyard Girl
• Fields, Shorelines and Hunters
• Moon Child
• We Own The Sky
• Gone
• Kim & Jessie
• Highway Of Endless Dreams
• Don't Save Us From The Flames
• Skin Of The Night
• A Guitar And A Heart
• Encore: Couleurs

First, let me talk about their music. It's this wondrous hybrid of electronic tones, spooky vocals, epic soundscapes and powerful crescendos. You can think of any kind of mood when listening to the music, whether you think of it while walking through the planetarium or, for me, the soundtrack when looking over a cityscape or landscape.

Their latest album, Saturdays=Youth, has many of the same elements that made their previous album, Before the Dawn Heals Us, such a success. They layer electronic sounds over shoegazer vocals and the results are these mini-epics that are never overwhelming, but memorable.

I find that the group is at its best when they vier away from their mind-expanding ambient tunes and focus on more structured songs. For instance, their most popular song, "Don't Save Us From The Flames", has lyrics and voices you can cling to and it ebbs and flows effortlessly. On the new album, "Kim & Jessie" and "We Own the Sky" feel like they have some individuality.

Now, live. Having never seen the band before, I was hoping they would take their songs and amp them up to get the crowd moving. It's is extremely difficult for a band who's music is made with computers and keyboards to elevate that sound so that you're getting a better experience than just listening to it at home. Acts like Basement Jaxx, Moby, Daft Punk, Royksopp and LCD Soundsystem do it best.

I wanted to leave tonight's show feeling moved, inspired or invigorated. I left thinking that most of the show felt like listening to the albums at home, just with a better soundsystem. Something like "Graveyard," a song that has a lot of exciting elements , just didn't feel special from what it is on CD.

On the other hand, some of the last songs played were what made the show. Coulers, Don't Save Us and A Guitar and A Heart sprung to life and had most people responding. The pulse that the songs have came off better live.

I will think of M83 as a band that is a must for people who dig electronic music whether it be in dance form or theatrical. They're goal is not to get your body moving, but to inspire images of your liking. It's just that seeing them in person won't change that opinion. You're missing some things by not going, but not much.

As my final note, if you were there, standing stage left, you know what I'm going to point out. To the guy who would not shut up and was screaming over the music for no reason -- do not go to any more shows. Check this out, this genius was clearly not there to see a show. During the softer moments of the show, you hear him screaming, "SO WHAT TRAIN SHOULD I TAKE TO MAGNOLIA BAKERY? WHAT IF I'M COMING FROM BROOKLYN? HEY, GINA. GIIIIINNNNNAAAA" Everyone was giving him a dirty look (the STFU glare), and he's just a dipshit not to realize he is at a concert where people go to hear music. On behalf of Music Snobbery Nation, do us a favor and stay home.

Comments

[will]

saw them in london and actually thought they were very good.

[kevin]

I'd have to disagree with you, I was at the same show and was quite moved by the performance. I didn't have that asshole near me though. I was more in the middle and front. I thought the songs translated well live and the performances were epic, especially from the girl and the drummer. Really impressive and probably on my top 10 list of best shows I've seen actually.

[Sonya]

I wasn't at the same show but I went to their show at First Unitarian Church in Philly and I also thought they were amazing live. I don't think they're the same kind of electronic as LCD or daft punk, I don't ever think I'm suppose to dance to M83. Maybe only for a couple songs here and there. The show I went to was seated and probably in the most perfect venue I could ever think of for M83. I would travel to see them again, it was one of the best shows I've ever seen.

[Adam]

I was at the Brooklyn show. I think they sounded really good, though I agree, the set was far from perfect. I know they must have worn the song out by now, but I would have loved to have heard Teen Angst live. I live in Florida and M83 was one of the reasons I wanted to visit NY this past week. If I hadn't gotten really stoned prior to the show I probably would have been more ungrateful ;)