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Doves don't fly in Chicago |
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Written by JORDAN GREENBERG / Photos by ANDY ARGYRAKIS
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Tuesday, 27 September 2005 |
It seems Americans have long been fascinated by musicians from across the pond. From bands as varied as The Beatles, Travis, and Oasis, the British Invasion is in no way just a thing of the past. Today occupying the throne of English music is the melodic melancholy sounds of Chris Martin’s Coldplay.
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Doves
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 Entertainment
Art
Riviera Theater
Chicago, Ill.
September 27, 2005
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However, they are by no means the only British bands trying to make waves in the States. Far from riding the coattails of their contemporaries, the Manchester trio known only as Doves has found critical acceptance on American soil lately with their latest album, “Some Cities” (Capitol). In the middle of a U.S. tour, Doves arrived in the Windy City for yet a second time this season, which may explain why they played to only a half-filled Riviera Theater on this fall Tuesday night. While their studio sound is hard to criticize Doves stage presence leaves a lot to be desired and shows itself to be their largest hurdle in attaining an American following.Make no mistake about it, Doves play their own brand of pop rock. Part mood music, part Peter Gabriel-lead Genesis creating a sound that is melodic yet still very hard-driven. Unfortunately, little of their niche-filling musical optimism translates to their actual stage show. With seizure-threatening lights burying the band in backlit obscurity, lead singer Jimi Goodwin allowed pinwheel-colored gels and an oversized movie screen to substitute for any dynamic movement on his part. Throughout the nearly two-hour set, Goodwin mumbled only a few moments worth of dialogue and was hardly any clearer in his vocals delivery. Using more scream than lullaby, only the tone of the music and never its meaning was ever heard way up in the cheap seats of the balcony. The few bright spots in the show (and they were there) laid in the best tracks off of Some Cities. The brilliant sounds of “Black and White Town” and the album’s title track were only able to survive the Riviera Theater’s acoustics because of their dependence on clear punctuating drumming and bobble-head inspiring melodies. Closing the evening with their hit “There Goes the Fear” (from their 2002 release “The Last Broadcast”), the three members of Doves suddenly moved around the stage with an energy never revealed in the rest of the show. Goodwin slipped from under his bass guitar to join band mates the Williams brothers in sending the fans from the theater with a resounding percussion based jam. Whether an apology for a ho-hum performance or an unjustified moment of ecstasy, the act was still insufficient to prove Doves are anything other than a studio band. A studio band, however, whose next effort will be eagerly awaited by critics and fans alike. Doves fill the holes in the modern rock scene unafraid to adorn their songs with long-hovering vocals and smile-inspiring instrumentals. Yet great popular success may be out of reach until the trio steps up their live performances. Don’t get me wrong, Doves are someone to keep on your radar but as it is now Coldplay is the English band ready to reign-eternal in America. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
