Vienna Teng - - Concert 2009.4
I first saw Vienna Teng four years ago when she opened for Marillion when they were playing as a trio. Since then, I have failed to see her top bill a show because of sell outs, or conflicts. So, last night I finally made it to one. I eventually gave my spare ticket to the Big German, since it wasn't sold out.
The first act, Paper Raincoats, wasn't on the bill, but they were enjoyable (I am listening to them now). Amber Rubarth and Alex Wong are the collaborative writing team and vocalists for the band (as well as playing keyboard, and guitar). The drummer, who rounded out the trio, had a pretty elaborate set-up, but didn't use all of it. I liked how their voices blended while they told the story of a fictional couple in NYC. They attempted to teach us how to clap along with one song, but I think most people failed the complex rhythm they were asking for (regardless of what they said). The ended by getting a volunteer tambourine player. Then the entire band went to the drum kit and laid down a drum solo which my friend was more impressed with than I was.
When they left, the opening act on listed on the bill, Ben Sollee, came out. When he sat down alone at his cello, I wasn't sure what to expect. His first piece started very classically, but he turned it around in the middle and started to rock out. He did use a looping pedal a few times, but not so that it stood out. Mostly he bowed it, but for a few tunes he put on fingerpicks and went at it. It was fun to watch him go at it.
Finally, Vienna Teng came out to sit at the piano1. It turns out that Alex Wong (What you forgot him already? it was just two paragraphs ago!) is her drummer and producer. Throw in a cellist/bass guitarist to layer onto her keyboards, and you've got the whole band.
Anyway, I enjoy the cuts off her new album and really enjoyed her older stuff that I was more familiar with. I will buy her new album when I have some dough. Teng has a great voice, and good piano skills. She used a digital looper (which must have a real name) to sample her voice for a couple pieces2. Teng opened with Blue Caravan, which is still the most haunting song about a vehicle I know.
She ended the night by having the band step in away from the mics, and taught the audience to sing along to Soon Love Soon. It was amazing.
1 Somehow, I had always assumed that was her real name, but Wikipedia says otherwise - and it freaks me out that she used her computer degree for two years at Cisco Systems.
2Although she wasn't as impressive with it as Craig Cardiff was.
The first act, Paper Raincoats, wasn't on the bill, but they were enjoyable (I am listening to them now). Amber Rubarth and Alex Wong are the collaborative writing team and vocalists for the band (as well as playing keyboard, and guitar). The drummer, who rounded out the trio, had a pretty elaborate set-up, but didn't use all of it. I liked how their voices blended while they told the story of a fictional couple in NYC. They attempted to teach us how to clap along with one song, but I think most people failed the complex rhythm they were asking for (regardless of what they said). The ended by getting a volunteer tambourine player. Then the entire band went to the drum kit and laid down a drum solo which my friend was more impressed with than I was.
When they left, the opening act on listed on the bill, Ben Sollee, came out. When he sat down alone at his cello, I wasn't sure what to expect. His first piece started very classically, but he turned it around in the middle and started to rock out. He did use a looping pedal a few times, but not so that it stood out. Mostly he bowed it, but for a few tunes he put on fingerpicks and went at it. It was fun to watch him go at it.
Finally, Vienna Teng came out to sit at the piano1. It turns out that Alex Wong (What you forgot him already? it was just two paragraphs ago!) is her drummer and producer. Throw in a cellist/bass guitarist to layer onto her keyboards, and you've got the whole band.
Anyway, I enjoy the cuts off her new album and really enjoyed her older stuff that I was more familiar with. I will buy her new album when I have some dough. Teng has a great voice, and good piano skills. She used a digital looper (which must have a real name) to sample her voice for a couple pieces2. Teng opened with Blue Caravan, which is still the most haunting song about a vehicle I know.
She ended the night by having the band step in away from the mics, and taught the audience to sing along to Soon Love Soon. It was amazing.
1 Somehow, I had always assumed that was her real name, but Wikipedia says otherwise - and it freaks me out that she used her computer degree for two years at Cisco Systems.
2Although she wasn't as impressive with it as Craig Cardiff was.