One of my biggest gripes as a fan of live music is the fact that most stages are set up in a fairly predictable manner: guitarist and lead singer in front, keyboard and bass off to either side, and drum player in the back, in the shadows, hidden by the drum set. It’s often tough to even see the percussionist, nestled so far toward the back wall, and it’s basically impossible to snap a good photo of him. On Thursday, though, two bands gave the keys to the drummers for a night and let them drive. How refreshing.
The sold out show at The Middle East Downstairs started out with The Ruby Suns, a charming band from New Zealand that positioned their drum set at the front of the stage. Using a combination of pre-recorded loops and live instruments, the trio made a considerable ruckus, giving the crowd an immediate shot in the arm. The Suns’ Caribbean-infused indie stadium-rock was enough to get the pit dancing, with the heavy lifting being done by drums and drum machines. Vampire Weekend’s less polished and less preppy cousin, The Ruby Suns are the cool kid from out of town who you want to hang out with.
As a result of a solid opening set, the crowd was amped up and ready when The Dodos hit the stage. Playing a mixture of tunes from their latest two albums, Visiter and Time To Die, The Dodos packed an even greater punch than The Ruby Suns, with two drum get-ups and a vibraphone ensuring that percussion remained in control. Keaton Snyder, manning the vibraphone, played with four metal-tipped mallets held in a manner evocative of Wolverine’s claws. Snyder oscillated back and forth between vibraphone and drums, in turn soliciting clear, singing notes and quick, harsh drum blasts. It was the perfect engine for The Dodos.
It is important to note that although the drums were the centerpiece of the evening, they were by no means the only instrument worth paying attention to on Thursday night. Drummer Logan Kroeber plays on a kit without a bass drum, leaving plenty of sonic space for his compatriots. Lead Dodo Meric Long filled that space by shredding an acoustic-electric guitar masterfully, occasionally taking the wheel and steering the band in a more melodic direction. His solos were impressive and transfixing without being showy or flashy—a tough balance to find.
Long also let his voice serve as an instrument on multiple occasions, really milking the melodies he could belt out. On tunes like “Fables” and “The Strums,” his vocals provided a counterpoint to the rhythm of the drums, lightening the mix enough to make the crowd slow their dancing and remember that there were performers on stage. Using talent rather than brute force, The Dodos were able to take an unassuming stage show and command the attention of hundreds.
The set wasn’t flawless: a few songs sounded similar enough as to border on monotonous; there were a couple of moments where it seemed like the band lost its groove; and an experiment with glow-sticks in the dark turned out to be cooler in theory than in practice. But when everything meshed, all was forgotten.
Nowhere was this clearer than on standout hit “Fools.” Snyder used a cello bow to tease notes out of the vibraphone, creating an airy canvas upon which the drums splattered paint. As the two drum kits wove together, Long’s voice was joined by the crowd in stabbing the air with familiar exclamations of “Oh! Oh! Oh!” An extended instrumental jam served as a cool-down from that pinnacle and closed out the set. The crowd called the band back, and an encore of “Walking” sent the fans on their way home, satiated, pleased, and with drums ringing in their ears.
DOWNLOAD: The Dodos - Fools (MP3) or Follow us for more The Dodos MP3s (Twitter)
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There was definitely a guy surfing in a wheelchair. I tried to capture it with my camera, but it was a total blur. He came over the barricade 3 times. The first time, he came over AFTER his wheelchair.
by Jill Rachel on Fri Nov 27, 2009 at 03.24 pm from the entry: Motorhead + Reverend Horton Heat + Nashville Pussy - Showbox Sodo (Seattle, WA; Oct. 02,2009)
Sick I was mixing the original in my dubstep mixes, but this just kicks it up. Thank you!!!
by Dre Ja Vu on Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 09.13 pm from the entry: Ginuwine's "Pony" Deconstructed Through Dubstep (Remix)
feelin it, thanks!
by jo on Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 05.00 pm from the entry: Ginuwine's "Pony" Deconstructed Through Dubstep (Remix)
lil wayne has a fukken song for everythingg(((: in lovee, high competition, everythingg.
**and i be with my dawg like im mutha fukken hunting
by a.d.kinchhh(: on Tue Nov 24, 2009 at 02.48 pm from the entry: Lil Wayne's No Ceilings Mixtape
it’s beyonce’s sister.
by colin on Tue Nov 24, 2009 at 12.36 pm from the entry: Solange takes on Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet"
Am I supposed to know SOlange?
by max on Tue Nov 24, 2009 at 11.51 am from the entry: Solange takes on Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet"
this may be your best review yet, colin. and that includes the pixies and modest mouse pieces. nice work! i’m also digging these photos.
by josh on Mon Nov 23, 2009 at 04.54 pm from the entry: Girls + Dominant Legs - Doug Fir (Portland, OR; Nov. 18, 2009)
