‘S’ from work was inviting me to see Mercury Rev at Southampton Guildhall on a spare ticket. Course I’ll come I replied, work tomorrow but who cares. I have heard a couple of albums but am generally unfamiliar with the band’s credentials. Nonetheless, keen for a second gig of the week, I screamed into town in record time on empty roads.
Support came from “The Duke Spirit” a London trad rock outfit I’d seen before. Debbie Harry attitude but without the looks or the voice. Enough said. Interval time and we ageing rockers swerved to the front with our thinning hair and knowledgeable good looks! I did not know what to expect but I have to say I was blown away by Mercury Rev. They won me over straight away with their entrance. They spent a couple of minutes waving to the assembled crowd of 600 or so and beaming wide smiles of genuine gratitude. Singer Jon Donahue seemed intent on making eye contact with everyone up to 5 rows back!
I was treated to music of the very highest calibre and coming from me that’s praise. Astral and narcotic in the extreme. Vocals were loud and clear, guitar was effects-laden and dreamy, drums were hard and fast, bass deep and sharp and piano high and bright. A thick and moody lightshow washed over proceedings throughout. These were consumately professional performers whose back catalogue I will be giving a severe going over. A rare humility pervaded the show even to the last. An encore was predictable but as the band grew ready to leave the applause quickened and an impromptu “one more” was offered. Sterling stuff.
“I'm so close I'm almost inside
Won't be long before the mystery is mine”
Mercury Rev – Racing the Tide
12 comments:
Excellent choice! I am familiar with some of the early material which I would love to see performed live. Sounds like they are continuing to impress their fan base.
See. There you go again. The way you describe music makes me feel like I was there.
R - well young man, they sure impresssed this listener.
Jen - You would have loved it Jen, the music was breathtaking. Pure unadulterated emotion!
wish i was there too. went to several darkened honky tonk bars in downtown nashville saturday night, looking for old cowboys singing old sad country songs. instead, found college boys trying hard to fake it. *sigh* sorry i haven't posted lately, i've submerged myself into the html abyss. i'll get back on track.
God its good to be back here reading your blog.. your words explain everything in detail ...feels like we were right there with you :)
Thanks for stopping by...you give me STRENGTH!!!
btw, i've added your image to my site in the left column, try it out.
sfwp - honky tonk bars sound so inviting. You'll see from an earlier entry that we're in TN next month so I'm hoping to check some out myself. Sad old cowboys! I just tried out your image link. That's rather clever of you. I did notice your html crayons had been out!
Doughgirl - You are having one tough time aren't you. Glad you can still make time to visit your friends. Music is my release (in case you hadn't spotted!).
That lyric is fantastic...think I must find out more about this band. :)
Perceptive isn't it. I have only just discovered them myself and went to the gig unprepared.
I see you link to "The Stills" too, what stunning taste! I bought around 150 CDs last year and 'Logic Will Break Your Heart" is the best by a considerable margin. Have you seen them live?
“I'm so close I'm almost inside
Won't be long before the mystery is mine”
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