Tonight, I checked out the band/project/side-project/concept album performed live called The Last Shadow Puppets -- the two main players being Miles Kane and Aleeeeeeeeex Tuuuuuurrrrrnnnnnneeeeerrrrr. It was chance to see the project in all its glory with an orchestra and fancy lighting. Plus, who can resist the chav charm of Aleeeeeeeeex Tuuuuuurrrrrnnnnnneeeeerrrrr.
It's been about an hour and some change since the show ended and I'm drawing a blank on what made it okay. Maybe my hopes were high when Miles prepared the audience by saying, "Hello, New York. Are you ready to go mental?" After they left the stage after their encore, I didn't feel the need to go mental. Maybe if she said, "Are you ready to go average?" then I would have been better prepare.
It all goes back to the album itself, which is great idea for the lads to make. The Age of the Understatement is a throwback to orchestral pop of the 60s as arranged by John Barry or Ennio Morricone with lyrics by Lee Hazelwood. The end result is more of an exercise in style and production. It's a good piece of work, but hardly great. You kind of want to hear the real thing, the inspiration, after listening to the album. I do applaud the guys for stepping out of their BritRock element and venturing into different territories, especially when they are still relatively young as musicians.
Thus, I felt the same way about tonight's gig. There never moments where I was completely engrossed in the music or the band. I do feel the show was a good representation of the album, but I was wanting that added "wow" factor that you wish for in a live show. The covers of The Beatles, Bowie, Love and Leonard Cohen were nothing special, and unfortunately rather bland.
Leaving the show, I didn't have the sense of empowerment you should feel from a sold out, highly touted show from two popular blokes. The caveat with these side projects is that people wouldn't pay much attention to them if the band members were just nobodies, but since its the guy from the Rascals and the lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys, it becomes a big to-do. If you didn't go tonight, you didn't miss much and that's the bottom line.
what are you nuts?!
i was there and the show was amazing!!!
the covers were just awesome! and the whole show was just a wow factor. it was awesome!!
Posted by: Nicole A | April 03, 2009 at 11:49 PM