This was the second time I'd seen them play – actually, technically it was the third; I'd seen them as the second support act for Something For Kate maybe twelve years ago – and both times it was at the same venue, HQ. It's an interesting spot for bands to play 'cause it's mostly known as a mainstream nightclub. But it's actually a great place for gigs because of the layout – a few different levels – and the sound's always been great as well. Over the years I've seen bands like The Dandy Warhols, You Am I, the aforementioned Something for Kate, George and (one of my all-time favourite gigs) They Might Be Giants there.
Anyway, the gig. Here's what they played, courtesy of Setlist.fm:
There were a lot of songs from the new album, Kintsugi, which I was fine with 'cause despite not being blown away by it initially, I'd had it on in the car the few days leading up to the gig, and had come to like it. Plus they also played most of my favourites of theirs – Grapevine Fires, Transatlanticism, I Will Follow You Into the Dark, The New Year and the full length version of I Will Possess Your Heart.
It helps too that they're an excellent live band, with a lot of energy and a really well-organised plan of guitar-swapping – which was handy 'cause they changed guitars a lot.
Really, the only downside to the whole experience was that it was on a Tuesday night and I couldn't help but think about the fact that I'd be getting a less-than-ideal amount of sleep before an almost certainly stressful day of work (I'm always busier in the first week of the month).
That said, I can't help but feel that might be the last time I see them – they've been around for a while and before this tour, Chris Walla, one of the four (the other three being sing Ben Gibbard, drummer Jason McGerr and bassist Nick Harmer ) who've been with the band for most of its existence, left. Not that that necessarily means they'll break up, but I wouldn't be terribly surprised.
If they do split, though, at least I've seen them, and seen them play well.
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