Midlake / St. Vincent / Elk @ 7th Street Entry
Source: morecowbell.net
Since we were out of town last weekend (read about Travis’ weekend in Chicago, my weekend in NYC will be posted soon), Stacy Sandstrom caught the show in our place, ands took some amazing photos as well.
Never having seen any of the three bands on the bill at the Entry, I was feeling pensive and pretty mellow prior to the night’s start. That feeling didn’t change much throughout my night. Music started on time with Elk opening the bill. Elk is one of many illicit hybrid bands here in Minneapolis, with Eric Luoma from Bellwether and his wife, along with the entire rhythm section from The Hang Ups. The result is an alt-country sound with a bit of a rock kick. My favorite from their set was “Someone Else’s Pills,†because it was at this point that Elk really came alive on stage and started to speak to me… however their set was just too short, and after one more song they were done.
The next gal I’d heard a lot of ranting and raving about, but still wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It took St. Vincent (real name Annie Clark) over 30 minutes to set up her gear, and sleepiness was setting in for me. I’m glad that I stayed awake, however, as St. Vincent’s first three songs took the audience on a journey from murder to immaculate conception. In my opinion, that’s an accomplishment. Her sound is akin to the old vaudeville torch singers, and I felt transported a bit back into that era. She looks at you with her big blue eyes and speaks with her faint, apologetic voice, causing your heart to melt just a bit. Then her feet begin to slam into the amp’d board on the floor, she gets her guitar going, and you’re whisked away into her crazy messed up world. Somehow, you’re happy to be there. Toward the end of her set Clark reminded us that she’d been in the Cities just three weeks earlier at the Fine Line. Her summation of our fair state was much like her set, “Every time I’m in Minnesota it reminds me of the movie the Shining… if it was a love story.â€
After watching the blogger favorites set up six keyboards and seven guitars along with all their other gear (for only five guys, it seemed a bit excessive), Midlake took the stage. The Entry was packed at this point and everyone continued to cram in, wanting a good view of the action.
I can be honest in saying I didn’t expect too much. I have a few tracks off their newest album The Trials of Von Occupanther, but prior to the show I didn’t find much to cheer about. In person, however, Midlake charmed me. Yes, they were mellow, and yes, there were times when they didn’t look all that excited to be there. But then a simplistic melody was taken above and beyond what was expected as level upon level of keyboards and guitars were placed over and under that initial tune. I don’t know that this music is something I’d want to be listening to while driving, as it put me in the mood to lie down and really listen to the overlapping harmonies. I’d find my eyes slowing closing, concentrating on picking out individual noises to determine where they fit in amongst the cacophony of sound being produced. Midlake creates the kind of music I have a love-hate relationship with. I mistakenly want to pin them into some sort of neat category. Be 70s disco. Be folk. Be rock. The reality, however, is that Midlake’s music is like puzzle pieces from different boxes that aren’t meant to go together… but yet, somehow they just do.
Midlake Setlist:
1. We Gathered In Spring
2. Roscoe
3. Van Occupanther
4. Bandits
5. In This Camp
6. Balloon maker
7. Some of Them are Superstitious
8. Children of the Ground
9. Young Bride
10. Chasing After Deer
11. Head HomeEncore
13. It Covers the Hillsides
14. Branches
