Midlake @ Mercury Lounge, NYC 6/21/06
Holy shit did Midlake bring a lot of equipment with them from Texas. We're talking a Hot Chip-sized spread of keyboards, cords, pedals, and more. Not to mention a screen and movie projector! We were hoping it was to play the M*A*S*H opening montage during Stereogum fave "Roscoe." No luck.
Midlake - "Roscoe" (MP3)
So Merc was sold out, and the line was long on gate crashers hoping to get a glimpse of their Bamnam bretheren. After spinning that album and their upcoming release The Trials of Van Occupanther, the sonic shift from Flaming Lipsy Yorke-ishness to Fleetwood Mac-fed harmonies is evident and impressive. With the sound of each record best typified in "Balloon Maker" and "Roscoe" respectively, we were shocked to get 'em as the first two cuts on the night. The guys admitted that after their "hits, the rest of it is all dreary," and there's some truth to that. Tim Smith even yawned during "Van Occupanther." (In fairness, the band drove in from Texas at three in the morning. But still.)
Despite the tunes' inherent sleepiness, pulsing takes on "Head Home" and "It Covers the Hillsides" had us engaged and willing to forgive a lack of live polish (though more Bamnam tracks would've been nice). And when we were drifting, there was always that weird-ass movie to look at.
SETLIST
"Balloon Maker"
"Roscoe"
"Young Bride"
"Van Occupanther"
"??"
"It Covers the Hillsides"
"In This Camp"
"Some Of Them Were Superstitious"
"We Gathered In Spring"
"Head Home"
Posted at 4:49 PM in Concert, MP3
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i was definitely hoping for more bamnan and silvercork or even their first EP, but it was a good show, and i'm psyched to get the new album. i was surprised they weren't selling van occupanther at mercury, but i guess they can't legally sell it in the states yet.
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wow they really opened with their three best tracks!
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The Show was great I thought. Except for mr. superfan screaming to them for a good amount of the time.
I thought the diggs were good too.
anyone else?
I interviewed them a few days ago..
www.thepunkguy.com
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One of those guys totally subbed for my Physics class in High School. He started playing Grandaddy and I was the only person in class who had heard of them. Then he told me about their EP and I was hooked. Ooohh Indie Cred!
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Which guy subbed for you Eric? The drummer taught at my old high school...
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the drummer, mckenzie, is such a douche. he's been scamming on young girls forever. the new album sucks, and they are boring live. bamnan is a great album though.
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I'm pretty sure he plays guitar and some keys. And I think his name is Eric also. I've seen them play since they played with Eisley and some other cats on the square in Denton.
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i guess everyone gets there 15 minutes of blog love...
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sounds to me like jack lost a girl to mckenzie. i've known him for years and find him to be a good guy. i also think "van occupanther" is the best record of the year, thus far. just another man's opinion.
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Glad to see that Bamnan and Slivercork is finally getting some love around the indie world. When it came out it got great reviews from the Paste Magazines of the world, but the indie-hipster press was curiously silent.
For the record, McKenzie is so not a douche and the new album is one of my favorites of the year as well.
As for being boring live, I think that the band has really come around and the new songs are probably better suited for a live setting. I wouldn't say they were boring at all. Some of the so-called awesome live acts (bands like Be Your Own Pet and stuff) bore the crap out of me with their eager-to-pleaseness. Midlake kills with kindness and great songs.
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If McKenzie did "scam on young girls" as Jack so artfully put, I'm sure he felt bad about it. If he were a young girl scammer I'm sure he wouldn't have been able to keep a job working at a high school - which he did.
Nonetheless, he is one of the most accomplished drummers your ears will ever be blessed to hear, and quite a nice fellow.
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