Hey now, it's the sun. And it makes me smile!
Tonight I saw the Polyphonic Spree at the Pageant Theater in St. Louis, and it was THE MOST AMAZING CONCERT I HAVE EVER SEEN.
From the moment the singer cut through the 6-foot high piece of red fabric that wrapped the front of the stage (cutting a heart shape, nonetheless) to the 2+ hour later Earth Wind and Fire coda (Ride Captain Ride), it was a roaring, symphonic, vividly-lit, confetti-exploding, perpetually-moving wall of sound.
The 23 people i counted on stage all put in a solid effort, from the steady bassist to the cellist who practically waltzed with her instrument to the singer's son who banged on a drum in his own way to the sexy backup singers to the oddly alluring flautist to the auxilary percussion player who managed at least 15 pieces of equipment at any one time.
They started the show in their Fragile Army getups... black shirts or smocks, with matching black pants/skirts and boots, and put on at least a 10-song, including "It's the Sun" set before declaring they were done... but not really. they slowly left the stage one by one as the crowd sang the chorus to one of their many moving, happy songs...
Then they came out in their white choir robes that they are so well known for. They came through the crowd and hopped up onto the stage again to play another 7-8 songs at least, including "Hold Me Now" "Soldier Girl", "Sonic Bloom", "Light and Day" and an awesome cover of Nirvana's "Lithium".
There was one especially fun moment where the whole band froze except for the lead singer (and unpurposefully, his cute if slightly annoying son), and the singer went around and played their instruments and toyed with them as if he were in one big sonic wax museum.
It made me smile. Even if I had to wait 70 minutes for them to get onstage beyond the time i had arrived early.
It's amazing how the members of this band can pack up their lives and do these glorious, amazing, energetic shows day after day after day. I read a tour diary of theirs in SPIN a few years ago... I'll have to read it again.
Take it from me: If you and the Polyphonic Spree are in the same 100-mile radius and they are putting on a show, go see them. You will not be disappointed. Your style of music or not, the showmanship and spectacle will capture you.
http://www.thepolyphonicspree.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphonic_Spree
From the moment the singer cut through the 6-foot high piece of red fabric that wrapped the front of the stage (cutting a heart shape, nonetheless) to the 2+ hour later Earth Wind and Fire coda (Ride Captain Ride), it was a roaring, symphonic, vividly-lit, confetti-exploding, perpetually-moving wall of sound.
The 23 people i counted on stage all put in a solid effort, from the steady bassist to the cellist who practically waltzed with her instrument to the singer's son who banged on a drum in his own way to the sexy backup singers to the oddly alluring flautist to the auxilary percussion player who managed at least 15 pieces of equipment at any one time.
They started the show in their Fragile Army getups... black shirts or smocks, with matching black pants/skirts and boots, and put on at least a 10-song, including "It's the Sun" set before declaring they were done... but not really. they slowly left the stage one by one as the crowd sang the chorus to one of their many moving, happy songs...
Then they came out in their white choir robes that they are so well known for. They came through the crowd and hopped up onto the stage again to play another 7-8 songs at least, including "Hold Me Now" "Soldier Girl", "Sonic Bloom", "Light and Day" and an awesome cover of Nirvana's "Lithium".
There was one especially fun moment where the whole band froze except for the lead singer (and unpurposefully, his cute if slightly annoying son), and the singer went around and played their instruments and toyed with them as if he were in one big sonic wax museum.
It made me smile. Even if I had to wait 70 minutes for them to get onstage beyond the time i had arrived early.
It's amazing how the members of this band can pack up their lives and do these glorious, amazing, energetic shows day after day after day. I read a tour diary of theirs in SPIN a few years ago... I'll have to read it again.
Take it from me: If you and the Polyphonic Spree are in the same 100-mile radius and they are putting on a show, go see them. You will not be disappointed. Your style of music or not, the showmanship and spectacle will capture you.
http://www.thepolyphonicspree.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphonic_Spree