Sunset Rubdown Live, 6/13/2009

I see your face when I close my eyes
I see the muscles in your legs from the way you always rise
To the occasion of catching things that fall
Like the statuettes on pedestals I tend to build too tall

Sunset Rubdown appeared at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia (down in Fishtown) on Saturday night, performing a set consisting mostly of tracks from their new album Dragonslayer.  And as expected, they killed it.  They didn't come out until about 11:15, for a 9 pm show, and by then my anticipation was tempered by a little exhaustion, but as soon as I saw Spencer and Camilla setting up their keyboards, I was ready to cheer.  And I didn't stop until the set was done -- at around 1 am.  They played thirteen songs -- 11 initially, then 2 in an encore -- and they were all absolutely brilliant.  Here's the set list:

1. Black Swan
2. Silver Moons
3. The Taming of the Hands that Came Back to Life
4. Idiot Heart
5. Coming to at Dawn
6. Winged/Wicked Things
7. Paper Lace
8. Snake's Got a Leg III!!!!
9. You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)
10. Dragon's Lair
11. Nightingale / December Song
12. Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!
13. The Mending of the Gown

Buy Dragonslayer

I'm not a fan of "Black Swan", so I'm glad they got it over with first, but I absolutely love "Silver Moons" and the live version, while very true to the album's version, is incredible.  In fact, the most amazing thing about the show (and the album) is that the songs largely sounded very much like the album versions live.  The band was able to replicate their brilliant live shows on the new album, an impressive feat.  Of course, it's all amplified and more intense and more effective live, but the album is definitely an achievement.

"The Taming of the Hands" and "Idiot Heart" have been live staples for some time and Spencer and the band played them well as usual.  "Idiot Heart" is a particular live favorite and the crowd ate it up.  The crowd was pretty good at the packed club -- and I mean, jam-packed (exceeding the posted limit of 200 it seemed) -- although some in the crowd didn't seem to know the Dragonslayer songs as well as the older tracks.  I guess maybe it's a little presumptuous for me to expect that everyone in the audience to have bought the album minutes after it was released online and listened obsessively in the three weeks since then like I have.  But I was a little surprised.  It was also 8000 degrees inside the space, despite being quite cool outside, which prompted some funny banter by Spencer about the fan blowing on him during the show.  He said he has problems with overheating and the fan is supposed to cool him, but the fact that it billows his clothing and gives the effect that he's flying is merely a bonus.  And one he quite likes. 

Camilla introduced "Coming to at Dawn" as a "new" track, but then she corrected by saying that it's newer than even the ones on the album, which isn't officially released yet ("even though it's all over the Internet", she added snidely).  I was excited to here something truly new, but of course, this song appeared on the Spencer "solo" 7" Introducing Moonface and is likewise all over the Internet.  The live version was quite different from the 7" version, and the full band sped up the track to good effect.  They followed with "Winged/Wicked Things," off Random Spirit Lover, a long-time favorite of mine. 

Spencer introduced "Paper Lace" as a "cover song," which I guess is officially accurate, even though he's covering a song that he wrote and performed for one of the other highly acclaimed bands he plays in, and the live version, while solid, didn't add much to the album version of the track, probably the new album's second weakest behind "Black Swan."  But Spencer got me back on the "going crazy wild with excitement" train when he announced they were next playing a song that they "hadn't played live in a long time, but were playing around with in the studio" -- the first album classic, "Snakes Got a Leg III."  Spencer even said he wasn't sure what the lyrics meant anymore, but demurred.  I'm pretty sure in his genius mind, all the lyrics still have meaning. 

Anyway, the band killed "Snakes Got a Leg" and then drifted smoothly into a closing troika of songs that were the absolutely highlight of an otherwise wonderful show.  "You Go On Ahead," which has become one of my favorites off the new album, is brilliant live -- just amazing when he gets to the "and you've got to WAIT!" part.  They then followed with a mind-blowing version of "Dragon's Lair," which Spencer called his favorite song off the new album.  And I can see why.  Live, it's just an ebbing-and-flowing rambling beauty of a track, and when Spencer gets to the "champion" parts, he's a sweaty, screaming mess (in a good way).  Just a wonderful song live.

The initial set closed with "Nightingale / December Song," which Spencer said he never thought they'd be able to play live, due I guess to the intricacies of the arrangement.  But he brought two members of opening band Elfin Saddle onto the stage with him to play guitar and bass, while Jordan, Michael, and Mark all switched to different percussion instruments and the five of them gathered in a circle at the back of the stage, backs to the crowd, as Spencer and Camilla on their keyboards belted out a beautiful version of the track.  I was still recovering from the brilliance of "You Go On Ahead" and "Dragon's Lair" when this came on, and yet I think it may have surpassed them.  Just a wonderful performance.

Spencer said goodbye and the band left the stage at that point, but the crowd cheered and clapped its way through the next few minutes (my arms are still sore), and the band returned for an encore.  "Apollo" was the first song, and it was biggest departure from the album version, as Spencer played guitar and sung alone for the first couple verses, before the rest of the band slowly joined him, building as the song builds, to the amazing "Anna Anna Anna Oh!" conclusion.  Perfectly done.  And then they closed with my favorite Sunset Rubdown track of all time -- "The Mending of the Gown" and knocked it out of the park.  The crowd was probably most into this track of any track the whole night, and the energy from the stage and the venue was about to explode when they finished.  I wish they'd played another track (several requests for "Stadiums and Shrines" were ignored), but apparently 13 was their limit tonight (they played 14 the last time they were in Philly).  And it was 1 am.  But it was a great, great show.  Thank you, Spencer and company.  Thank you for everything.

• Download Sunset Rubdown - "Snakes Got A Leg III".mp3
• Download Sunset Rubdown- "Winged / Wicked Things".mp3
• Download Sunset Rubdown - "The Taming of the Hands That Came Back to Life".mp3
• Download Sunset Rubdown - "Coming to at Dawn".mp3
  
• Buy Dragonslayer

Here's a video of "Mending of the Gown" from their Brooklyn show on Friday night.  Pretty excellent homemade video, as these things go...

Comments

[Kelly]

I like what I am reading. I am going to see Spencer and company on the 20th in Austin and can't wait!

[Bill]

I can't believe they've left the northeast after only 3 shows! I want to see them again already. Have fun in Austin, Kelly.

[wayne]

Spencer really needs to visit Australia!

[Kelly]

Thanks Bill. That does stink that they left the NE so soon! I guess their last show in Dallas was enough for them not to come back here (really bad crowd in size and attitude). I am debating driving to Houston and seeing them there Friday night and then heading over to Austin from there. I have relatives in each city so it should be an easy feat. Crazy? Yes. Worth it? Yes!

Sorry Wayne. I really wish you could experience SR live. Is a trip to the States in order?

[Bill]

I don't know how far Houston is from Dallas (isn't it like 5 hours or something?), but if anything is worth it, Sunset Rubdown definitely is!

And sorry too Wayne -- you have to plan the next States trip with an SR show.

[Wayne]

Yeah, we want to visit New York and New England in 2010.
Must make sure SR are playing when we are there.

[Kelly]

SR Live 09' in the bank and it was awesome! Read about it here: http://kellys-alter-ego.blogspot.com/2009/06/sunset-rubdown-austin-tx-6192009.html

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