måndag 17 Feb 2014, 19:47

Sun 16 Feb – of Montreal, Calvin Love

The band now is less a group of friends - Kevin only really interacts with Rebecca. That's alright though because these new guys (never introduced!) are really good musicians, as a 5 or 6 piece you get something pretty close to the album sound. even if the speaker had a dodgy connection, panning left to right, making things more trippy than intended. Don't think they're cold on stage though, this night at least everyone was having a good time.

The drummer? Animal from the Muppets. Lead guitar is the American hero, cowboy with 2 Buds. He and the bassist both, so i'm told, technically solid. Keyboardist deserved props for carrying the heavy load of Kevin's studio work.

Wasn't enough room onstage at the Haunt for much theatrics, so no dancers, just the vid screen (David Barnes) and lighting which oddly left Kevin, Rebecca and lead guitar mostly in darkness! Close enough to see them fine though.

So Rebecca, looking something like an American Kate Middleton, seems better suited to duets with Kevin than with the band, where she spins around with little to do. Perhaps bring her on as a guest singer for a couple of songs? I dunno, she seems like a nice person sure but she's distracting? And her deliberate mumbled intro caused some head scratching. Easy with the in-jokes guys.

This gig was worth it to me just to hear the slide guitar on She Ain't Speakin' Now, also one of my fav songs of 2013 :). And to see them letting loose a bit with the songs, extended fills, and some sweet transitions. If i have to criticise oM shows, it'd be good to have more changes of pace, especially towards the end. This is something their albums do so well.. I'd love to have a full album done live with this line up, any oM album really.

Some of those hotels Kevin's been staying in must have good gyms, because he's f**ing ripped. This was the most surprising thing about the show. Enjoy, ladies and gents? ;)