photos by Shawn Beckman text by Carling Hind
The recent performance of the New Pornographers on their Together tour was more like a musical than just a concert performance. The nine band members treated the Canadian crowd to a healty mixture of new and old tracks with their set lasting just over two hours. Considering the high level of band/audience banter, it was more like a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show!
When the two opening acts (Imaad Wasif, The Dodos) were through, singer/guitarist Dan Bejar opened up the NP set with “Myriad Harbor”, well supported by Neko Case taking the female lead. The audience mobbed the stage and added enthusiastic background vocals to “Up In The Dark”, “Sing Me Spanish”, “Techno” and “Crash Years.” Fortunately for this evenings audience Case was able to make the show, as she was held up by her flight and unable to make Wedneday’s show.
The Vogue’s intimate setting, combined with the crowd’s reaction to Case’s presence made for a highly interactive evening. At one point when a half naked man on the balcony got carried away, Case nonchalantly commented, “…How is it that this man can bear his chest in public, but I cannot? …That ought to be for the beach only…” And then the band launched right back into song, unfazed.
Though the breaks during their set involved many topics of conversation, the New Pornographers performed the way they do best – with humor, theatrics and a safe choice of music – their fans favorite picks. And it didn’t hurt that they concluded with two lengthly encores of “Challengers” and “Testament to Youth in Verse.”
photos by Jean Dorgay text by Richard Colburn
After reviewing his latest album Between The Needles And Nightfall a few issues back, I was certainly up for seeing Benevento’s trio live at the best sounding venue in the Northwest; like the record, I came away impressed with the performance and the sound. Benevento’s recent albums showcase his ability to create magic, sonic landscapes, but the live show is a different story. This jazz trio is really a jam band in disguise. Benevento uses a series of effects pedals at the feet of his baby grand piano, and just like a guitarist, uses them to great effect. At times, his sound went straight to the PA system, and others, he routed them through an ancient vacuum tube practice guitar amp with a great result.
This performance kept the strong melodic backbone of the recordings, but the way the drummer and bassist kept their lockstep rhythmic foundation was reminiscent of a precision fusion band more than a traditional jazz trio. Whether they were performing some of the original material off the latest album or covering Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good”, the band held the audiences rapt attention. They stretched out quite a bit but never let go of the tension created between the melody and the attack. The crescendos “The Two Of You” and a few others felt like a sonic wave crashing off the walls of the club. As a relief from that tension, Benevento played a few tunes on his toy piano, replete with comical stage antics while still being pummeled by the rhythm section.
Marco Benevento is a joy to see live. He has an amazing ability to compose songs that have memorable melodies that translate well to a forceful, if slightly unorthodox fashion on stage.
photos by Jeff Dorgay
Here’s a few extra shots of Jeff Beck from the current tour…
Full review in TONEAudio #30, out shortly!
Definitely a master of focus.
Three songs into the set, the master is starting to have a great time…
