Beauty is not an elaborate stage setup, intricate lighting, or contrived stage antics. A concert should, theoretically, exert the same aural splendor when the concertgoer’s eyes are closed. It takes a certain musical prowess to overcome the hurdle of a large venue without superfluous production. Some bands have this skill, a no-frills approach to captivating a room of 6,000 people. Explosions in the Sky, only equipped with their instruments, their souls, the Texas flag, and Radio City Music Hall‘s acoustics, delivered a set that took the Freytag’s Dramatic structure associated with post-rock and obliterated it.
Crowd members consistently seemed anticipatory. Knowing the band’s catalog allowed the audience to let their hairs stand on edge, their muscles tense, and their hearts stop just before the climactic catharsis of any given song, subsequently letting loose a flood of emotion with every thunderous transition. Straying away from the prototypical “Quiet Part/Loud Part” format of much post rock music, EITS allowed for the organic growth and buildup of their small symphonies. The echo of the bass drum in Radio City Music Hall was chest pounding, and when met with the high pitched screech of tremolo picking and its companion crash cymbal assaults, the music hall became an ocean of pure sound. From the buildups to the climaxes, each moment of ambient noise was embraced by audience members extending their arms out to soak in the sound at their favorite moment.
I can only imagine that every couple squeezed their hands harder during “Your Hand In Mine,” and every post-rock enthusiast let loose a large breath when that one “moment” hit. Guitarist Munaf Raiyani swayed, guitar hung low, and clutched his chest before unleashing barrages of distortion; Michael James literally punched the strings on his guitar to emit reverberating crunches that shook the floors. At no moment was there a lead player - only a cohesive uproar of instruments for eight minutes at a time, only to be bridged with slight feedback.
The band only spoke twice. Munaf thanked the crowd and the openers once at the beginning, and briefly spoke to the beauty of the venue. At the end, they offered just one last thank you before walking off the stage, characteristically not coming back from an encore. (They never do.)
Yet, all the while through the set, there were no words, and much like the fancy lights, none were needed.
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Two songs go in, one comes out. Pick a side.
Also, I have yet to pay this venue a visit, is it good spot? good people, good vibe, good atmosphere?
... man, i hope i win some tickets…
by Jaz Bonnin-Aldatz on Thu May 17, 2012 at 12.27 am from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
Looking forward to the show. Would love to win some tix for my pals.
by MC Breath on Wed May 16, 2012 at 07.40 pm from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
I’m dying to see him no better place than FETE!!
by Telly on Tue May 15, 2012 at 02.57 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
Sound does matter. Viva Le Fete!
by Auquanetta on Tue May 15, 2012 at 01.13 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
YES! i MUST go to this show! i was just strollin down the street the other day and saw the poster! SO stoked they’ll be in town.
by Jaz on Mon May 14, 2012 at 05.30 pm from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
Fete Forever!!
by Tabitha on Mon May 14, 2012 at 05.08 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
Congratulations and thank you to Fete for bringing talent to Providence! We needed this venue and vibe. Bless.
oh and I’d love to win tickets; its my boyfriends bday:D
by Ellen on Mon May 14, 2012 at 07.23 am from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
Sounds like a completely rad show.
So jealous you went to this. The pairing with Low was almost enough motivation for me to make the trek down to NY.
This show was incredible. I had the pleasure of sitting two rows behind the entire band while the openers were performing.