22/5/2008 - The Luminaire, London
The Luminaire in Kilburn is the perfect venue for Sunset Rubdown tonight. At a capacity of 280 its very intimate, and has that feel to it that makes you only want to talk in whispers. The film noir element it elicits also perfectly complements the support band.
Fireworks Night are a six piece band hailing from London, and provide the audience with an enchanting journey through the darker side of folk. The vocalist utters poetic lyrics in a dry witty tone, bringing comparisons to Neil Hannon from The Divine Comedy. He creates a brilliant amount of suspense with his well timed pauses between words and syllables, leaving the audience hanging on every one of them. The female vocalist/violinist compliments with beautiful serene harmonies.
The rest of the band are multi talented, with one member changing between the guitar, violin, ukulele, banjo and singing saw to great effect. Fireworks Night are a hidden gem, and if you make the effort to seek them out you will surely be rewarded.
Montreal alternative folksters Sunset Rubdown feel a bit uneasy with the ultra polite quietness of the Luminaire’s audience tonight; they mention that in the States it’s an understandably different affair. Their listeners respond by giving them rapturous applause and appreciative whoops, before dying down and becoming deadly silent again.
Sunset Rubdown break the silence with ‘Winged/Wicked Things’ from their newest highly acclaimed album; Random Spirit Lover. Spencer Krug’s vocals travel delicately through the first verse, before the crashing marching drums and poignant twang of the guitar come into play on the chorus, elevating Krug’s voice with it to emotionally powerful levels, travelling along like a powerful shanty where you imagine old sailors in a ramshackle pub holding their beers high in the air and swinging from side to side.
Next they venture into ’Stadium and Shrines II’ from their earlier Shut Up I Am Dreaming LP. This anthemic wonder is the type of song that’s perfect for closing your eyes and soaking up all the epic beauty that’s provided in huge waves that wash over you with the multitude of mesmerizing layers holding great passion.
‘The Mending Of The Gown’ thrills the audience with its upbeat feel and features excellent harmonious vocals from Camilla Wynn Ingr alongside the sanguine melodic colours delivered on the keyboard, while ‘The Empty Threats Of Little Lord’ brings us dark and brooding elements, with the affecting lyrics “If I ever hurt you it will be in self defense... I wish you all the best you snake.”
It’s usually the case that seeing a band live brings out the essence of what they’re about, but with Sunset Rubdown this cannot be emphasized enough. They deftly take the audience on an epic journey, and their inventive songs radiate out with captivating perfection.
Written by Sam Crawford for www.subba-cultcha.com. |
