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St. Vincent and The National Live

Apparently there is no seperation of Church and State here.

St. Vincent/The National

The Vic

Released on Nov 30, -0001

The current music industry is plagued with false females idols. From going to rehab to letting your lady bits hang out, there is a definite lack of strong women in the world of Rock 'n' Roll.

Enter Annie Clark - otherwise known as St. Vincent, who started up a delightful night of music this weekend as she opened for The National to a sold out crowd at The Vic. Her morbid yet dreamy song "Paris is Burning" has been a staple on my iPod on the train home for the past month or so, and I was thoroughly excited to see how her music would translate live. I was surprised in a very good way. See, I'm more of a gal that likes to go a concert to get really sweaty, pump my fist and dance like a maniac. So a double bill of two softer artists made me a bit skeptical.

St. Vincent really packs a punch of raw power live. With just a guitar, percussion pad and numerous pedals (and one blinking neon light fixture) to back her, Clark powered through a tight (and a bit short) set filled with many of the gems off her debut album Marry Me. An artist confident in her craft, Clark was adorable and engaging with the audience while still concentrating on the various tasks of hitting pedals and buttons on cue. For one singular girl with a guitar, she provides a lush and gritty sound that reminds me of a softer more feminine version of PJ Harvey, showcasing the fair difference from her recorded sound and live sound.

Following St. Vincent was headliners The National. The National aren't a pretentious band, half of their members don't even look like dudes that should be playing instruments. They’re seemingly normal guys. They obviously love making music and performing, evident by the thrashing and passionate stage decorum of lead singer Matt Berninger; but I wasn't entirely sold on having a rabid love of their music. I was talking to some fans close by about how they first saw The National play a few years ago at Pitchfork Festival, and how they were captivated by their live performance. I agree they put on a good show - but I wasn't blown away. Maybe it's because I need extreme energy or at least a decent amount of surprise when a band is unexpectedly good to really get me excited about a concert.

At the end of the night I had a great time, but it wasn't a concert I'm going to remember five years down the line. Yes, their music is really beautiful. I'd play it around my apartment while I'm cooking or reading a book, some type of calm activity. Their sound reminds me a lot of Doves or The Stills, two other bands that I enjoy listening to, but once again, I just don't enjoy live. Good music, nice try, but it just didn't leave me floored.

Posted by Lisa White on Sep 26, 2007 @ 12:00 am