Let's hit the ground running with what I remember of the Murder by Death concert. First off, the openers were fairly good. I preferred the Fake Problems to the Builders and the Butchers since they seemed to operate on more of a flat plane. I expected the Builders and the Butchers to take off at points, but ultimately they felt lacking... Like they have the backbone of what could be good music, but it's missing a hook or something.
As for the main event, I hated that I had to sit through the entirety of Red of Tooth and Claw in order to get to some Murder by Death that I actually wanted to listen to. I still think it's a very boring album and by far their weakest. Fortunately, they performed the entirety of 2003's Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them afterward to make up for it. Still the entirety of it wasn't really necessary since there are some songs ("End of the Line" in particular) that are best left for atmospheric listenings of the album and not for playing at a concert (the band admits themselves that they're depressing). Finally, Murder by Death finished the set with four excellent songs: "Shiola," "Brother," "I'm Afraid of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf," and "Those Who Stayed."
So what did I think of the level 21 Wisest Wizards overall? Pretty good, minus Red of Tooth and Claw. I would have greatly preferred to have heard all of Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing instead. Now that's a damn good album.
As for the main event, I hated that I had to sit through the entirety of Red of Tooth and Claw in order to get to some Murder by Death that I actually wanted to listen to. I still think it's a very boring album and by far their weakest. Fortunately, they performed the entirety of 2003's Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them afterward to make up for it. Still the entirety of it wasn't really necessary since there are some songs ("End of the Line" in particular) that are best left for atmospheric listenings of the album and not for playing at a concert (the band admits themselves that they're depressing). Finally, Murder by Death finished the set with four excellent songs: "Shiola," "Brother," "I'm Afraid of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf," and "Those Who Stayed."
So what did I think of the level 21 Wisest Wizards overall? Pretty good, minus Red of Tooth and Claw. I would have greatly preferred to have heard all of Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing instead. Now that's a damn good album.
2 comments:
Aw crap they played All of "Who Will Survive..?" That is my favorite album of theirs. I wish they were touing here.
Red of Tooth and Claw I think (hope?) was them just flushing out leftover ideas of in bucco al lupo (spelling?). It was released quite soon after. I agree it's probably their weakest. I think al lupo puts red of tooth and claw to shame.
Now for the questions...(so many)
What did you think of their live performance?
Isn't their bass player amazing?
Do they have the piano player back with them or is Sara still doing double duty? Sucked last time I saw them because the keyboard kept crapping out through the whole set.
Isn't watching sara rock out with that cello simply enchanting? Not to mention kinda hot.
did you go by yourself or with someone?
I demand anwsers! I'm really glad you enjoyed it!
I think the old movies on the projector where alternately creepy, interesting, and trippy. There wasn't a lot of dialogue with the crowd, but it was personalized towards Colorado, DIA, and Valentine's Day (Adam commented on how funny it was that we came to see some depressing band on Valentine's). I liked that Adam admitted to playing Wisest Wizard (he claims an impressive level 21). I felt like the only geek in the place when I seemed to be the only one who knew what that game was.
I didn't notice the bass player too much in the mix, but when I would look over at him every now and then, he looked like he was doing some interesting stuff. I noticed he switched guitars a lot. More than Adam who mostly used a black Telecaster along with a weird Minarik guitar.
They did have a keyboard player (Dagan?) this time. Adam made some comment on how it was good to have him back or something. I only heard him in obvious places. I don't know what he was doing the rest of the show. Poor guy, seemed kind of like he didn't have much to do.
I was surprised that Sarah wore a skirt for cello playing... I would have liked her to be more prominent in the mix too. I wish I had vibrato like a cellist... She rocks that thing.
I went with Sean. I was sick with the flu and I gave it to him. Sucked on coughed drops all night. There was one guy how nodded off (supposedly on heroin) at the beginning of the show that was kicked out. He nearly spilled bear all over Sean.
A lot of people sported the "cool to be homeless" look. Some cute girls. Some scary girls. There was some stuff that happened next to me that's probably best not to mention out of politeness.
I still don't know if the lead guitarist in Fake Problems is a girl or a guy though. S/he was really tiny and had a sort of deep V T-Shirt. So either she's really flat or he likes to wear woman's clothes. Lord knows s/he's already got the jeans...
Any more questions?
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