|
The Soundtrack of Our Lives Deliver till the End |
|
|
|
Written by CHRIS CASTANEDA / Photos by BARRY BRECHEISEN
|
|
Sunday, 07 March 2010 |
The Soundtrack of Our Lives attacked the stage at Lincoln Hall on Sunday night as if it was performing before a crowd of 70,000 at Wembley Stadium. Although the modest sized crowd that filled the room that night was far from the arena rock standards, the Swedish group did not disappoint in delivering a show that was both uninhibited and raw.
| | |
The Soundtrack of Our Lives |
Lincoln Hall
Chicago, IL
February 28, 2010
|
| | |
|
The sextet built a show built on mood and grooves with each song. Rather than hit the crowd over the head with a barrage of go for the throat, no mercy rock songs in the beginning of the show, the band set the tone with the somber shuffle of “Lost Prophets In Vain” from the latest Communion and the no-nonsense march of “Keep The Line Movin’.” The three lions of the band—Ebbot Lundberg (singer), Ian Person (guitar) and Mattias Bärjed (guitar)—prowled the stage with confidence under the excitable air of unpredictability to every move they made. Keyboardist Martin Hederos accentuated the many colors behind the songs; fleshing out the soulfulness of Nick Drake’s “Fly” as well as the manic rush of “Big Time.” The combination of drummer Fredrik Sandsten and bassist Kalle Gustaffson helped lay down bulldozing rhythms during the Faces-esque “Thrill Me” and a nearly non-stop “Sister Surround.”
For close to two hours, the Soundtrack of Our Lives showed why they are one of the best no-frills live act currently around the music scene. On paper, the band is a bare bones guitar-bass-drums band that writes good songs. The evening’s set presented a band currently at its creative best after 15 years of making music. Those in the room knew they weren’t listening to Swedish space rock or Swedish psychedelia; it was simply the best of all aspects of music of all eras. For what could have been a night where the band played through the motions just to conclude a tour, the band put up a fight to the very end.
On Sunday night, fans watched a band that didn’t want to place its instruments down. From the surging “Mind The Gap” to the fan requested “Age of No Reply,” there were never any hints of the band letting down. As an appropriate send-off gesture to those that stuck around, “The Passover” was the exhale at the end of the night. The song’s minimalist approach with very little band action, far removed from the bombastic nature of previous songs, proved to be the shining light of the entire set. Lundberg stepped down from the stage and walked into the middle of the room, not uncommon at Soundtrack shows, but, during the song, it felt as though Lundberg was in a deep, emotional place that wasn’t afraid of being naked among the audience.
“Don’t worry/Stop hurrying/Get on with your life/It’s not too late,” sang Lundberg as he leaned back against the stage. The gentle notes from Hederos grew quiet with each refrain from Lundberg until all that was left was his voice echoing inside Lincoln Hall. What began as a plea ended as reassurance.
|
rubbish
Written by Guest on 2010-03-11 00:29:58
the review doesn't capture the show at all. it was a good show, but very low energy. the audience wasn't as excited as you say, because the set list was mediocre and much shorter than normal and the band was clearly tired from flying in from sf earlier in the day. | Written by Guest on 2010-03-11 11:20:55
Well, there's a curfew to consider, too. I don't know if Sunday shows have to observe a different curfew time. The singer even joked about how weird it was to have to wrap up as early as they did. They clearly wanted to keep going. The crowd seemed like a typical Sunday night crowd at a rock show--happy to be there but remembering they have to be up for work the next morning. Just my 2 cents. | Extras Stars for Playing With Jet Lag
Written by Guest on 2010-03-13 18:00:38
Shoot, I didn't care if they played with spoons, I knew they would be exhausted from being in California the night before. I was thrilled and didn't see any low energy in the bunch. Jeez, the drummer and Mattias were drenched in sweat at the end. So maybe next time the distance between shows won't be so unforgiving and they won't have to fly half way around the country just to be nice to Midwest fans. I am 47 years old, this band is keeping my faith in rock and roll alive. P.S. Chris Casteneda has a wonderful writing style and did a good job with this review! |
Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
