The Twilight Sad & Mono Collide at Bowery
by The Artistree
Forget The Night Ahead was one of our top albums from last year and because of tracks like “I Became a Prostitute” and “Interrupted,” we still haven’t stopped listening. When the band came out to the album’s haunting start “Reflection of the Television,” the excited chills of our first listen visited us. Launching into their set, singer James Graham crept back and forth hesitantly between their edged stage space. His grip on the microphone gave the appearance of forced containment; Graham’s heavy energy imitated a madman ready to crack! The pressure of the stringent red lighting didn’t help cool off the anxious state – but instead reminded us of a panic room or a building’s emergency lights blaring warning. Then came the fuzzy guitar playing of Andy MacFarlane and constant pounding by Mark Devine on the drums for “That Birthday Present” to seal the fiery mystique. We felt an invisible barricade between the band and its stoic audience – a scenario we can’t imagine in their native land of Scotland. We agreed that their ideal show setting would be the cramped quarters in the bowels of a dark, foul smelling pub somewhere in the UK – and if we could, we would be there! During a serenading “That Room”, Graham rested the mic on top of his head – suggesting that he had finally found tranquility in the song’s gentle performance. His Scottish accent was liquefying when he belted, “You’re the grandson’s, you’re the grandson’s toy in the corner!” Despite their silent conversation, the band squeezed in extreme appreciation – thanking the crowd several times – and even hinting at a return sometime in the near future…
We hope that the eye-catching photo above of the Japan-based headliners, Mono, has you asking questions. “WHAT are Mono” over “WHO are Mono” would give you the better answer. One fan’s insight that night may say it all: “When they perform, people meditate.” Although there is no lead singer, Takaakira Goto’s lead guitar levels could be easily mistaken for wailing vocals. Whether his body was half crouching while half pointing to the sky – crawling on the floor to reach for the pedal board – or zoning out to the prayer of his guitar, we were sure we were witness to a musical exorcism. Goto and second guitarist, Yoda, were mostly seated when they played until the songs reached a climax that had them jumping out of – at times, even kicking away – their stools. With bassist – Tamaki Kunishi – and drummer – Yasunori Takada – filling out the rhythm section, it is hard to say who was further into nirvana. The booms coming from a majestic gong behind Takada, mixed with the rumbles and clashes of the instrumentation, pushed rock’s technical and compositional boundaries. Behind the plethora of long hair that hung over them, it was awfully hard to see the facial expression of any band member during their riveting, disconnected state between body and mind. Mono succeeded in detaching us from reality with them – putting the crowd through different emotional levels – thus proving the fan’s statement true. It was amazing to be both subject and witness to such a stronghold. The night that these two parts of the world torrentially interacted with ours, left a long-lasting aftershock of their hurricane.
Special Thanks to Anna Paz // Temporary Residence Limited and Anna Bond // Fat Cat Records
Tags: Mono, The Twilight Sad
- June 17, 2010
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