Live: A Silver Mt. Zion and The Dead Science
0 Comments Published by Keith on Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 11:43 AM.
A Silver Mt. Zion and The Dead Science. May 31st, 2008 at Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago, IL.
The Dead Science started off the night with a bang. This was the second time I'd seen them, and I can say with confidence that this performance was more exciting. Last time, they played almost all down-tempo melancholy tunes, but their set was well balanced last Saturday. They were even wilder than the last time I saw them, with the trio getting very into the music. Especially the bassist, who is so much fun to watch rock around on stage. The Dead Science's music is very jarring and inaccessible, but it was a wonderful start to the show for those of us who were into them. A friend of mine said she felt like she should be watching them in a museum of contemporary art, and I think that's a great comparison. The music is so creative and intense, and it is absurdly contemporary, like nothing else. At one point in the show, an audience member was freaking out, apparently tripping balls like no other. She ran around yelling things such as, "I'm not real!" or "I'm ice skating!". After the frontman of the Dead Science, Sam Mickens, commented on the psychedelic freakout, someone in the audience yelled out, "Rock!". Mickens made a slight gesture pointing outwards to acknowledge the comment, as if he was saying "Oh, we will," before launching into their final song. Which was, in fact, one of the most rocking of the night, and wildly enjoyable. Just like the last time I saw them, their set was short -- five or six songs, and no more than a half an hour. But it was a well enjoyed half hour.
Later in the night, A Silver Mt. Zion came on stage to headline. I had mixed feelings about their set. To me, A Silver Mt. Zion was best when they were an instrumental band. Their early albums contain breathtaking passages of orchestral beauty, and that isn't found quite as much now that they sing. The main problem I have with the singing lies in the frontman. He seems to have grown comfortable enough with his voice to yell his vocals as loud as he can, but his voice is incredibly gruff and jarring, and it does not fit with the sound of the rest of the band. This was the problem that I had with the latest Silver Mt. Zion album, 13 Blues For Thirteen Moons, and it held true throughout their live set. It would have been one of the best shows of my life had it been an instrumental set. That aspect of their sound is so powerful, but it was ruined by the yelping frontman. Good thing the opening band was so solid.
The Dead Science have a new record, titled Villianare, coming out August 26th, via Constellation.
A Silver Mt. Zion - The Triumph Of Our Tired Eyes (from Born Into Trouble As The Sparks Fly Upwards)
A Silver Mt. Zion - Blown-Out Joy From Heaven's Mercied Hold (from He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts Of Light Sometimes Grace The Corners Of Our Rooms)
The Dead Science - Sign Your Name (from Bird Bones In The Bughouse EP)
The Dead Science - Batty (from Submariner)
A SILVER MT. ZION
THE DEAD SCIENCE
The Dead Science started off the night with a bang. This was the second time I'd seen them, and I can say with confidence that this performance was more exciting. Last time, they played almost all down-tempo melancholy tunes, but their set was well balanced last Saturday. They were even wilder than the last time I saw them, with the trio getting very into the music. Especially the bassist, who is so much fun to watch rock around on stage. The Dead Science's music is very jarring and inaccessible, but it was a wonderful start to the show for those of us who were into them. A friend of mine said she felt like she should be watching them in a museum of contemporary art, and I think that's a great comparison. The music is so creative and intense, and it is absurdly contemporary, like nothing else. At one point in the show, an audience member was freaking out, apparently tripping balls like no other. She ran around yelling things such as, "I'm not real!" or "I'm ice skating!". After the frontman of the Dead Science, Sam Mickens, commented on the psychedelic freakout, someone in the audience yelled out, "Rock!". Mickens made a slight gesture pointing outwards to acknowledge the comment, as if he was saying "Oh, we will," before launching into their final song. Which was, in fact, one of the most rocking of the night, and wildly enjoyable. Just like the last time I saw them, their set was short -- five or six songs, and no more than a half an hour. But it was a well enjoyed half hour.Later in the night, A Silver Mt. Zion came on stage to headline. I had mixed feelings about their set. To me, A Silver Mt. Zion was best when they were an instrumental band. Their early albums contain breathtaking passages of orchestral beauty, and that isn't found quite as much now that they sing. The main problem I have with the singing lies in the frontman. He seems to have grown comfortable enough with his voice to yell his vocals as loud as he can, but his voice is incredibly gruff and jarring, and it does not fit with the sound of the rest of the band. This was the problem that I had with the latest Silver Mt. Zion album, 13 Blues For Thirteen Moons, and it held true throughout their live set. It would have been one of the best shows of my life had it been an instrumental set. That aspect of their sound is so powerful, but it was ruined by the yelping frontman. Good thing the opening band was so solid.
The Dead Science have a new record, titled Villianare, coming out August 26th, via Constellation.
A Silver Mt. Zion - The Triumph Of Our Tired Eyes (from Born Into Trouble As The Sparks Fly Upwards)
A Silver Mt. Zion - Blown-Out Joy From Heaven's Mercied Hold (from He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts Of Light Sometimes Grace The Corners Of Our Rooms)
The Dead Science - Sign Your Name (from Bird Bones In The Bughouse EP)
The Dead Science - Batty (from Submariner)
A SILVER MT. ZION
THE DEAD SCIENCELabels: Show Reviews
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