The Return Of My Bloody Valentine

I went last night ... fuckin awesome

Only MBV could spend $360,000 on gear and then sort of casually say "it'll be nice to play the songs the way they were meant to be played."

I've always been a Loveless appreciator more than a Loveless fanboy, but damn that show was incredible (I went on Monday)--never do live bands make me want to close my eyes and just listen. There was something excellently unpretentious about it too--Colm and Debbie just rocking out, Bilinda placid with a faint smile, and Kevin totally calm, hitting every chord perfectly. They're doing something special, and they know they are, but they never for a second got self-conscious about it.

Colm and Debbie just rocking out

I admit I might be looking forward to that the most. Debbie attacking the bass is my overriding memory of the 1992 shows.

Bilinda placid

that's one word for it; she's definitely the weakest link

What made the 1992 shows legendary is the conflation of all the juxtapositions. MBV really lived up to the term shoegaze -- specifically Kevin and Bilinda... so many people probably thought the show would be little on energy. People just didn't know there would be a LOT of energy but coming from anyone BUT the expected suspects.

The juxtaposition between the still and low-key Kevin and Bilinda, the far more energetic Debbie and Colm, the strobe lights, and the jet noise in 1992 just broke a lot of boundaries in people's brains on what a live show should be.

While I'm kinda bummed this is, as an ILX celebrity put it, "the third leg of the Loveless tour" and nothing more, I'm happy that people who are seeing MBV for the first time are apparently getting a very accurate represenation of what it was like in 1992, YouTube, iPhones, etc. be damned.

I was there last night. It was fucking amazing, it felt really really good to be just completely engulfed by noise for like an hour and half. one of the best bands I've ever seen play in my life.

however, the crowd was the biggest bunch of pussies in any show I've ever been in. I was embarrassed. people were literally running away from the stage holding their hands over their ears.

xxxpost Debbie was incredible!!! besides shields I was most mesmerized by her.

however, the crowd was the biggest bunch of pussies in any show I've ever been in. I was embarrassed. people were literally running away from the stage holding their hands over their ears.

A bit rude. I can't say I'm surprised at those reactions but they were the case back then. To quote myself:

They kept playing at twenty-five minutes. I swear I saw people literally staggering towards the exit, just having to leave, not being able to stand another second of it. But then I also saw people moving forward, almost as if they couldn't be controlled -- moths to the flame.

people were literally running away from the stage holding their hands over their ears.

no

The anger and exertion in Colm's face was quite astonishing to behold at electric picnic. I recall Debbie seeming quite restrained though.

The NY crowd was predictably full of retards, such as amateur photog in front of me who captured just about every lighting change but may have not heard any music at all. He would focus on Bilinda for about 10 seconds before taking a picture--dude, she is not moving or changing expression.

Then there was the crew of idiots next to me who spent half the show shouting "Don't be afraid to dance, New York" after every song and dancing like wannabe ravers while this out of control girl kept on bumping into me and stomping me with her heel. "You Made Me Realise" shut them down pretty good. God I am sick of the "ppl at indie rock shows are scared to dance" trope.

Whatever, small distractions during an amazing night.

i was slightly surprised at the jock-ish percentage in the audience, maybe including the dudes who kept shouting "louder!," plus tiny girls who pushed upcrowd as aggressively as meatheads, but in large part people seemed to stay in place and respectfully appreciate what they were seeing. the clapping/cheers seemed fairly muted - maybe it just seemed that way because of the earplugs, or maybe it was because everyone was wearing earplugs (around me, at least).

I am sick of the "ppl at indie rock shows are scared to dance" trope

i'm not - i think indie rock crowds suck - but being really vocal about it is poor form

On the clapping thing I noticed that too--I think for me it was a combination of being totally overwhelmed and not even thinking that it was time to clap/cheer, and then when I did think of it, it seemed like it was going to be hopelessly QUIET compared to the band.

so nice to read all the deb appreciation. watching her slam the bass around during thorn's so fun.

roseland ballroom setlist, no honey power :(

1. I only said
2. When you sleep
3. You never should
4. When you wake
5. Cigarette in your bed
6. Come in alone
7. Only Shallow
8. Thorn
9. Nothing much to lose
10. To here knows when
11. Slow
12. Soon
13. Feed me with your kiss
14. You made me realize

dudes, don't bring a fucking date to a MY BLOODY VALENTINE show cuz you guys read pf4rk and listen to belle and sebastian in your bedroom. it's not "pleasant" music in a live setting it's fucking ear-raping noise bliss. come prepared. pound a couple shots of jameson or something and don't just stand there looking like you're at a tour of the vatican or something

that is all.

how to pound shots of jameson into ears?

http://earsunblocked.com/images/ear-syringe.jpg

I waited through the show until halfway through that noise segment to put my earplugs in, and it took until today for my hearing to feel totally right again. Had some weird muffling yesterday, and my voice sounded louder and scratchier in my head.

"To Here Knows When" was amazing. The whole set was so loud you kind of had to know the songs very well to be able to search for the chord changes. I think that was confusing to some people.

It was the loudest thing I've ever heard for sure. Halfway through the noise segment of "..Realize" I started looking up at cymbals being slammed over and over, which was kind of surreal, as I couldn't hear them at all. I just felt little surges cold air slithering around my earplugs, and the feeling of the hair on my arms being blown gently by the air pushed by the sound.

I agree with 90 percent of the above postings. Fantastic live show, one of the best I've ever seen. And fucking loud.

Anyone going to be at the Chicago show on Saturday? I'm coming in w/a couple of friends from Cleveland.

Played the live recording in the car last week, long journey.

Hit a traffic queue, was stationary, until the "death chord" hit, at which point the traffic melted.

And all was fine, until the death chord ended and the last part of the song resumed, at which point the traffic halted again.

This sounds about right.

"You Made Me Realise (That Tinnitus Ain't Exactly A Party)"

wear them earplugs, folks...

is spectrum opening the SF show?

The Toronto show is tonight. Although I heard they're handing out earplugs at some venues, I'm going to buy a pair at lunch today. I can't wait. I honestly never thought that I would get to see this happen.

Mostly detailed list of what gear MBV is using on this tour

Three items of note...

1. Kevin Shields guitar alone can go as loud as 116dB.

2. The P.A. was partially inspired by the “Wall Of Sound” PA that The Grateful Dead used in 1974.

3. This picture...
http://guitarplayer.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/kevfx1.jpg

J-Rock didn't post again on this thread, so I fear he was killed by the noise.

spectrum is opening the SF show, as well as Suzanne Thorpe (solo flute?), in case anyone was wondering.

I anticipate this to be the perfect soundtrack to the Death of America

I anticipate this to be the perfect soundtrack to the Death of America

Aye. I'll be at this show when the Vice Pres. debate is going on.

Really is perfect timing. As I've told Mackro, the holocaust section might as well soundtrack the debate itself.

Notes on Roseland night 1:

• I thought Colm was so sloppy that it was almost ruining some of the songs
• The mix was loud but seemed to lack OOMPH like their albums do; I felt underwhelmed and disappointed
• THE LOUD PARTS DURING "SOON" DIDN'T GET LOUD!! What the fuck!!!
• Death Chord made everything worth it and then some

I heard a definite lack of oomph at the Toronto concert (it did get better as sound dudes finally put a bit more bass in)

The mix was loud but seemed to lack OOMPH like their albums do; I felt underwhelmed and disappointed

One thing I remember about the second 1992 show was how it didn't quite feel like the first one in terms of sheer sonic hysteria -- but I think the answer was clear: the second one was in a bigger venue and the more open the space, the less it's all immediately and totally drilling into every extremity. The fact that the LA shows are at the Santa Monica Civic Center leads me to think most of the show will be similar, but that "You Made Me Realise" being the last song will have everyone just going 'UH' for days after that and remembering little else.

On the other hand, I deliberately picked the second show because that gives Kevin and the sound guys a day to tweak the sound to best advantage.

i'm almost dreading this show now

I just landed in SF today after 4 flights from another hemisphere, I will be at show tonight. what time does MBV go on?

there are two openers and it "starts at 8" so I'd guess not until 10

I will be there at 9:30pm then. See youse.

I coming down to L.A. to see them for a variety of reasons, so it may seem weird to say that I'm so so so sick of Loveless, how it changed almost everything, etc. Hell, the star KEXP DJ named his record label after the album title, and one of the first signings was a -- wait for it -- Loveless homage band pretty much. And on it goes...

it wasn't until I walked into Easy Street today that I heard the album for the first time loud in an empty space. I saw the band play live, but I'd only heard the album in more insular settings before.. which makes sense given the nature of how the album was made in many ways. *cue the Ned Raggett Nation anthem* But for such an insular album, this album is still a monster when played loud at a large record store with a decent sound system. It still sounds an album that came out this week. All the segues. Given that MBV aren't heading to Seattle this time or maybe ever again, it was a coincidence they were playing the album when I walked in. Yet it was that necessary Rocky Balboa moment for me wrt the Oct 2nd show. I am PUMPED. *lifts Olympian pedals and gold plated whammy bars with my bare fucking hands, yaaaar!*

The scary thing with me recently -- arrived at a friend's place on Saturday for a party and upon entering "To Here Knows When" started up on the stereo. I rolled my eyes a bit and asked, "Okay, did you have this cued up for my arrival or something?" -- only to find out that it was part of a random iTunes playlist.

wishing i had a full bodysuit of armor and a shield for this

Okay I am still vibrating.

awesome

btw Ned and Stevie basically OTM but fail to mention that "You Made Me Realise" goes beyond sound you can feel to sound you can practically touch

i left 15 minutes into it, could still hear it at my car three blocks away, it sounded like a war.

anyway yeah this was awesome

also great running into Mr. Shasta right outside

MET/EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS

"You Made Me Realise" being the last song will have everyone just going 'UH' for days after that and remembering little else.

This is more or less the state I am in at the moment. SF show, esp the middle section of this tune was simply astounding. I can't say as I have ever heard anything quite like it-incredibly rich, penetrating.

I'm curious to hear from those who have seen this recent tour as well as tourdates of yore.

Lastly if anyone has a setlist of last night's SF show I'd much appreciate it..

damn all of you SFILXORZ for not holding placards! I'm new here - do we ever SFAP?

Sparkle, the closest experiences I've had have been Boredoms and Sun Ra, though fwiw for Sun Ra the fungus in my brainz may have contributed.

btw Ned and Stevie basically OTM but fail to mention that "You Made Me Realise" goes beyond sound you can feel to sound you can practically touch

I always love this bit from the interview I did with him:

NR: I'm especially thinking, of course, of your version of "You Made Me Realize." I saw two performances back then, one at the Roxy and one at the Palace, which I gather was one of the last times the band performed back then...

KS: The last time we played in America...actually, the last time we played anywhere! The one in Los Angeles. It was a shame, because it wasn't loud. I remember thinking we played technically well, and I remember playing and going, 'It's not loud.' Because when it's loud, you can see ripples among the people as they all get hit by certain frequencies...

NR: To put your mind at ease, I think it was loud enough!

KS: Loud in a caustic way, but not in a low-frequency way, not in the stomach way. In the ears, yeah. I think we definitely tried to push that as far as we could ever push it. But I think in the future I want to make it a lot more physical, in a body way.

NR: That actually sounds a bit like Throbbing Gristle, of all bands, the way they tried to make sound visible.

KS: I think that's a good thing! I think that's real. It's like when you play an acoustic guitar, weirdly enough. The only way you can imitate an acoustic guitar effect on your body when you're sitting there playing it is to have a Marshall amp at full. It's quite perverse, in a way. People perceive loud music as somehow being really confrontational and aggressive, but really what you're doing is being sensual. At least that's the way I feel; I know Dinosaur Jr. are like that as well. A lot of bands are trying to get that feel when they're just sitting around playing with their amplifiers; then it feels right. When it feels dislocated from you, when it feels quiet, then it's wrong.

He knows exactly what he is doing, and what he wants to have happen.