I was suffering from a very low-grade migraine when I went to this show, so alas, the review is short. Migraine went away when I got to FF, but after Telefly, it was pretty unbearable. TT
I want to point out how much I dislike having to name styles/genres of music. I don't mind giving a general sense, but pigeon-holing a band as one sound just... often is not even going to work. So when at all possible, I am going to avoid that like the plague.
National pigeon unity(전국비둘기연합)
I am having trouble writing this review in particular because I keep going back and forth on how to properly highlight NPU. I can explain how exquisitely vibrant the Korean Indie scene is... and yet... something has been missing for me. It is entirely possible that my selection of shows is to blame. I tend toward the classic rock/psychedelic/blues/brit-pop -type shows. Somewhere in there, I feel like I am looking for something that I haven't found yet. Or I should say, HADN'T found yet. I found what I was looking for in NPU -- 90's-ish hard rock with a bit of grunge, a bit of White Stripes [and not just because they are a duo]. Their music is so familiar to me, even in a different era, with a different language, and a completely different scene. I have always wondered how musical duos work -- are there really enough people to really create enough sound? In this case, yes. NPU is one of the bands I will be following closely from here on out.
Do you wonder how just two musicians can totally rock it? I bid you watch this video, all the way to the end.
Telefly
Where do I start with Telefly. Well... I love how standing in a different position in relation to the stage can give you an entirely different [musical] perspective. Since I began taking guitar lessons, I have found that I really tend to pick out the bass lines. It's hard with Telefly, because EVERYONE is so good, you want to listen to them all equally, and it just isn't possible. To be fair, the guitar riffs are so exquisitely executed, and so exciting to the ear, sometimes it can be hard to listen to the other instruments. Except it's not. Because Telefly's music is so rich and full, ... if you AREN'T listening to everything, you are missing out. That being said, this was the first time I saw Telefly and stood directly in front of the bass player. ......
Wow. Just. Wow.
There is a reason these guys are one of my favorite bands right now [and probably ever], and why I am so in awe of them as musicians that I can hardly speak around them. I remember one time a friend took me to see a band in Seattle that played SO LOUD that you actually FEEL it. In your stomach. It actually made me ill. Telefly doesn't need these tricks -- you are going to feel their music in your heart and in your soul. That being said, standing in front of that bass monitor... just wow.
I am really cursed with trying to take video of Telefly... either the lighting, or the stage construction, or the monitors... I can't seem to really capture them as well as I see them. I hope this video gives you at least an idea of how great they are. And listen to that bass line. Just because.
asian chairshot 아시안체어샷
When planning to come to this show, I knew I was going to stay for as long as I had to to see Telefly. Unfortunately at the break after Telefly, my migraine got so bad I had to leave.
Which I can't even explain how heartbreaking that was. Because Asian Chairshot. Just because. As soon as they started getting ready, you could see the crowd getting a bit restless... everyone was really ready to rock... And then they started playing and the whole crowd was immediately held in a trance. I don't even want to really review them here since I stayed for only one song... and that, my friends, is tragic. Asian Chairshot is one of those bands that just has... "it". That indefinable thing. They had complete control of that stage and room from the beginning of their set, until, I am sure, the absolute end, and then they no doubt had people calling 'Encore! Encore!" ... so I apologize for the short length of this review that doesn't really give you a great idea of what they sound like, but I think the video will speak for itself.
That, and I assure you I will be seeing them again. Soon. Very soon.
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