Manchester Orchestra was such an amazing show last night. I didn't take the picture above but I could've...I was so close. Just left of the stage between the lead guitar and the super hot bass guitarist. M.O.'s junior album was just released earlier this month and after the amazing sophomore album, Mean Everything to Nothing that I was in love with for close to a solid year, I wasn’t sure I could love a third album as much but, oh my, the new album Simple Math is so freaking phenomenal. It includes a children’s choir and a freaking 12 piece string orchestra. Right now, I think it might be the best album of 2011 thus far. Well, Adele’s album previously had the number one spot but I have to put Manchester as #1.
Anyhow, I first saw M.O. when they opened for Brand New in October of ’09. Right away, I knew I was going to love them. Their sound is Indie/Alternative with a hint of Progressive Rock. Kind of Coheed, meets Death Cab for Cutie, add a little Brand New, and a dash of some grunge sound from the 90’s that I just can’t place, equals amaze. This was my second time seeing them but it was really like a first.
I rolled to the show alone. I’ve tried to get friends into them but no one loves them like I do. I haven’t gone to a show by myself in ages. I think since ’07! Dang. Come to find out, I am my new favorite concert buddy. There is always a cringe of embarrassment when I reminisce after a show about how ridiculous I probably looked rockin my fro’ around and dancing like my pants are on fire. Going by myself allows me the full IDGAF attitude to be released because, honestly, I’m never going to see these people again. And oohhhh, did I ever dance like my pants were on fire and head bang my whole fro’ till it was frizzy? Believe it!
The crowd was mellow but loud! They sang sooo loud. It was amazing and even though I came alone, in those moments, I had hundreds of friends as we all sang along to our favorite lyrics together.
I had an “I feel old” moment as I waited for the show to start. I stood there in a sea of teenagers and wondered, where all the people my age? I think they were in the balcony or in the back or something because, I swear, I was surrounded by 16-18 year olds. It got even worse when we were waiting and most of the nearby youngsters around me sat down...leaving me and the only dad in the near vicinity, standing. Awkward! Haha
You can tell M.O. has been doing this a long time. Starting out in 2004 as 17-18 year olds, they have had plenty of experience (still, however, younger than me…another old moment). They aren’t big on showmanship but they sound much larger than 5 people when they are on stage. My favorite moments included:
“I felt The Lord begin
to peel off all my skin
and i felt the weight within
reveal the bigger mess
that you can't fix.
I swear, I swear I'll go
Lead me into my home.
Don't stop don't ever go.
I swear you'll never know
you'll never know.
Oh God, you gotta shake it out, shake it out.
you gotta break it down, break it out”
” Alcohol, dirty malls, Pensacola, Florida bars”
” We built this house with our hands, and our time, and our blood
You built this up in one day to fall downward and rust
You built this house with your hands, and your time, and your blood
We built this up in one day to fall downward and...
Never really feel the same
never gonna be the same
no it's never gonna be the same
never gonna be the same”
All in all, I think Shake it out took the cake for song of the night in my opinion. I’ve loved that song for so long and to see it performed in front of me brought tears to my eyes. The words are beautiful and powerful. Freaking Love.
Here is a video of my favorite song shot from the balcony. Sound quality isn’t the best...or it just sounded waaaay better in real life or in my memory. If you look, you might see a big curly fro’ rockin out in the third row to the left of the stage, right in front of the bass guitar. You might recognize that mop. ;-)
No comments:
Post a Comment