The Wrath Of Blog

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Shock and Awe

In which I expand slightly on yesterday's/this morning's review of the Berlin Frames gig.

The audience - I'm guessing ~150 people - was about 10% hardcore frames groupies, 70% civilians, and 20% people who thought they were in a pub to have a good chat. Why this last 20% went and presumably bought tickets to a gig, I have no idea.

Since quiet stuff was out of the question due to the talking of the 20%, and the fact that the 10%'s devoted singing along just got too many laughs from the 70%, the only thing to do was turn everything up to eleven and rock out. Which was not a bad thing, even despite some lousy, lousy speakers and it being a small club. My ears have already stopped ringing.

Songs played are mostly a blur, but there was most of Burn The Maps along with the mandatory older stuff. A lot of the songs on BTM feel too restrained to me, but that's definitely been sorted out live. When they got around to Revelate, it actually seemed flat in comparison to what the BTM songs have grown into.

About three of what I presume are new songs passed by in the blur. "Leave" is the only one I recall, sounds like it would be pretty cool with a little more work, or just an audience who'd stfu and give it some room.

In spite of the talking 20%, an attempt was made at Star Star, which mostly worked, although some ignorant Kraut shouting "Letz rrhock!" at the worst possible moment didn't help. Glen trying to get Your Face past the talking was downright miserable. Not a Two Little Boys kind of gig.

So they rolled out Revelate, Dance The Devil and Fitzcarraldo and went back to making lots of noise. Which they are ridiculously good at. And lots of fun to watch. And that see-through violin is the coolest.

Selected quotes:

"This song is called I'm Tired And I Want To Go Home." (Pavement Tune)

"This started as one of the worst gigs we've ever played, then it was
sort of pleasant, and now I'm enjoying myself."

"This club doesn't seem to encourage quiet, but you're doing very
well"

"Mein Kamerad, kannst du die Butter geben?"

Fraaaaames! Wheeeee!

Oh. Fuck. Yeah.