I love the excitement that seeing one of my favorite bands live for the first time generates. There’s this whole anticipation/salivation/expectation anxiety that courses through me. Can they be as good as their recorded material, will they play their older gems or just stick to the new material that they’re touring behind?
Somehow the weirdness in my life has always intervened when I had otherwise planned to see Belle and Sebastian. Then last year they were playing the Congress Theater…I thought FINALLY! But then I was sent out of town for a training seminar. Not that Charleston, South Carolina isn’t a beautiful city, but come on! Me, concert addict and huge, long time B&S fan had yet to get to see them live!
So you can imagine my extreme jubilation at having a ticket in my hand for Thursday nights return engagement at The Congress. I’ve been playing the new record non-stop for almost 2 weeks now, created the best mental video for “Step Into My Office Baby” (featuring scenes from “Secretary”) and have been telling anyone and everyone who will listen just how much I LOVE the new release and why it is worth their precious dollars.
The Congress is a little run down, but it is a fabulous place to see a show. The acoustics are perfect in the old domed theater, it’s huge, has comfortable seating (for the damaged rock grrls in the family and/or the had a few too many fan in your clan) and standing room. The sight lines are great if you’re short and terminally afflicted with “tallest guy in the place stands directly in front of you itis”(which I am). All it really needs is some civic minded do good type with cash to spearhead the restoration effort and this grand palace would be the shit! Though they probably wouldn’t host rock shows anymore…..
Imagine the lush, beautiful sound created by 4 violinists, a cellist, double bass, full horn section (trumpet, sax, trombone), woodwinds, flute/piccolo/recorder and the usual drum, keyboards, twin 6 sting and12 string electric acoustic guitars, (One of Stuart’s guitars was a GORGEOUS electrified hollow body with a sunburst finish that still has me drooling both in the beauty of it’s construction and the fat, twangy, Chris Issac spooky style sound it produced) and of course bass. If this is sounding a bit like a Polyphonic show, you’re not far off- just imagine less people on the stage). Now add in Stuart’s great vocals and you have the picture.
They played a great mix of both old and new material, with Stuart & Co breaking for some extremely hilarious banter with the audience that ranged from hangovers, clothing, The failed maiden voyage of the Titanic and a brief song about it.. and the difference between Americans and deep fried Twinkies and Scots and battered and fried Mars bars…. Crazy, but completely charming. These guys are just so genuine and having such a great time!
The light show is so rarely even on my radar, but the B&S light show is such a huge part of the stage set up and show that I must comment. It was the most unique use of lighting effects that I have seen in years. Huge LED light rigs set horizontally and vertically all over the stage- so many different colors and patterns in perfect sync to the mood of the pieces- one effect simulated shooting 4th of July fireworks, coupled with some dynamite computerized laser lights…. WOW! Bring on the horse and pony show! This was a fabulous addition and not an attention grabbing stunt. The lighting guy was really cool (we were sitting to the right of the sound and light board and got to chat with both of theses talented gents after the show).
This show was worth every penny I spent on the ticket. Including the extra $14 I shelled out to TicketWhore for the LUXURY of using their services instead of trucking down to the Congress to get an advance ticket. I left in such a euphoric state that I couldn't sleep for hours afterwords.
This was my best show of the year to date hands down. IMHO it was definitely worth the wait!
--Sky
