I had two unexpected impressions immediately upon seeing The Long Blondes start their set at Great Scott on Monday night. The first was that Kate Jackson seemed really short, and the second was that the whole band was a lot less cool looking than their press exposure had been making them out to be. Emma Chaplin was wearing what I can only describe as a prom dress designed by Neil Diamond, and Kate Jackson just came off as….well, short. They struck all the right poses and had that healthy touch of insouciance, but for whatever reason I just wasn’t buying it. But before you go thinking I’m about to trash this show, I assure you that my intention is quite the opposite. The fact that I couldn’t sense that fog of untouchability is in the end what made me a believer. I’m not saying that the Blondes haven’t spent some good time trawling through thrift store piles and messing up their hair just right, because they almost certainly have, but they still had an element of vulnerability of a kind that, say Julian Casablancas, could never manage at this point. Maybe a couple more years of touring and adoration will soon do away with that intangible charm, but the Blondes would do well to keep it around for as long as possible.
I must confess that for about the first 12 years of my life I was, at least where music was concerned, a shameless sexist. The second I heard a female vocalist on the radio I would immediately lunge for the dial, perhaps a byproduct of having suffered through Heart’s “Crazy on You” one too many times on the local classic rock station while in the womb, desperately trying to escape as my mom remarked “isn’t that cute, he’s kicking!”. At this point I can count the likes of Portishead and Feist as some of my favorite listening, but I honestly still cringe a little when I hear a band name like The Long Blondes. It’s a shame, because it took quite a few stellar reviews of Someone to Drive You Home to make me finally set aside my chauvinistic baggage and hop on the Blonde bandwagon, but thankfully I came around. And even better is knowing that their live show will keep me coming back even more than the albums.
My girlfriend is notorious for complaining at shows. If it’s not too loud then there’s too much bass. If there’s not too much bass then it’s too hot. If it’s not too hot then she’s just plain bored. But on Monday night, after numerous cautious glances in her direction, I finally realized this time out might be a little different, and I was definitely sharing in her delight. Ripping through nearly every track from both their albums, the Long Blondes short, punchy rhythms translated perfectly to the stage. The newer tracks from Couples, with their slightly icier themes and atmospheric synthesizer touches, were a sound addition to their expanding palette and a welcome variation in tone and attitude. And while Kate Jackson is not a natural chanteuse, it’s always a pleasure to hear her voice take center stage as she pushes the limits of her upper register, as she did on the sultry “Too Clever By Half.” For all their supposed pretensions, The Long Blondes have crafted some undeniably catchy material and put together a thoroughly entertaining live set to match it. While I can’t claim to have put my sexist ways behind me entirely, I hear that acknowledgment is always the first step on the road to recovery.
SETLIST
Here Comes the Serious Bit (Couples)
Weekend Without Makeup (Someone to Drive You Home)
Autonomy Boy (Autonomy Boy 7”)
Round the Hairpin (Couples)
Erin O’Connor (Couples)
Separated By Motorways (Someone to Drive You Home)
I Liked the Boys (Couples)
Century (Couples)
Too Clever By Half (Couples)
You Could Have Both (Someone to Drive You Home)
The Couples (Couples)
Once and Never Again (Someone to Drive You Home)
Guilt (Couples)
I’m Going to Hell (Couples)
Giddy Stratospheres (Someone to Drive You Home)
ENCORE
Lust in the Movies (Someone to Drive You Home)
Two songs go in, one comes out. Pick a side.
thanks so much nadine! probably the best compliment a photog can get!
and thanks for reminding me to embed the video in the post too!
by Steve Benoit on Sun May 20, 2012 at 09.33 am from the entry: Father John Misty + Har Mar Superstar - Brighton Music Hall (Boston, MA; May 16, 2012)
I can’t get over how these photos captured my up close memory of the night.
by nadine on Sat May 19, 2012 at 11.08 pm from the entry: Father John Misty + Har Mar Superstar - Brighton Music Hall (Boston, MA; May 16, 2012)
Or should it be whoever? F my grammar.
by nadine on Sat May 19, 2012 at 10.30 pm from the entry: Father John Misty + Har Mar Superstar - Brighton Music Hall (Boston, MA; May 16, 2012)
Whomever took these photos certainly captured the night!
by nadine on Sat May 19, 2012 at 10.26 pm from the entry: Father John Misty + Har Mar Superstar - Brighton Music Hall (Boston, MA; May 16, 2012)
“Mindkilla” is awesome. I’ve got this music video last week and really impressed through watching every performance particularly “Glass Jar”. Thanks dude. :)
dance contest
by Mark Waugh on Thu May 17, 2012 at 05.54 am from the entry: Gang Gang Dance's Illuminating "Mindkilla"
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
so sorry to have missed this group!
Very cool photos - will read the rest of the review when I have time. Mom
It seems so strange to think of you as Mom. I bet you’re a good one, though.