The Locus Scene w/ Birds Of Tokyo @ The Annandale 09/02/07

[BJN]

i have to agree that the vocals were the weakest element for The Locus Scene (and indeed usually are), but they were by no means bad... Just ordinary. Ian Kenny (Birds of Tokyo) showed us all how it's really meant to be done later on in the night.

Greg, how many songs did you stay for (for Birds of Tokyo)? Personally, the first two or three songs didn't seem that great and throughout the bass seemed to be up too much. After the first few songs though, they were really kicking it and there was some beautiful melodies pouring out. Well, i enjoyed them anyway.

Untermensch seemed to like at least one of their songs and he's rather hard to please, so i think that's testament to how good they were.

Luis, did you end up going to the Townie afterward? i left pretty much as soon as the band finished and people were flowing out.

[Stasswardo]

*waits*

[BJN]

More reviews and feedback, pls...

*looks over at Ben and Luke*

i seriously didn't see that until after i wrote my above reply.

[Hitman]

More in depth TLS review pls...

[BJN]

Well, i'm still not overly impressed with the "Eleanor Rigby" cover. It doesn't seem to bring anything better than the orginal and in fact lacks the haunting melancholy that The Beatles had in that song.

Other than that everything i would have to say would be very positive, except that set was too short! [by the way, set list?] Stassy was uberhot on the drums. There was plentiful impressive Guitar work (both Troy and Luis). In fact, i think i noticed the guitars and bass a lot more this time and thoroughly enjoyed what i heard.

The new song sounded good. "Chinese Whispers" is a great song to end the set with, but unlike the rest of the songs, i don't think i was feeling that one as much this time. Everything else seemed better than at any previous times i've seen The Locus Scene.

Meh... i think that's about as in depth as i'm going to go at this stage. Yes, my grammatically incorrect "i"s are on purpose.

[edw1n]

good show luis and gang...

prolly the best ive even seen TLS - (prolly only seen you guys 3-4 times though)

I dug it, and only really missed one song...

I think your intro music was cool - but it didnt go anywhere - it was an anticlimax, all i heard was someone strum their guitar and it just killed the build up - i think the real drums should somehow come over it ... or well in some way or another something should come in over it...

I dug Stassys drum work, i dug the tones of the guitars, your other dude Troy? (guitars) was a lot more into it than he first appeared in the band - it was great to see some movement/charisma from him -your bass player seemed really boring to watch - off stage he seems like a really cool / loud guy - but that didnt reflect at all - infact i forgot he was on stage until i heard him sing out of key (which most of you did anyway)...

I also think in terms of layout - even though you have the keys and stuff - id like to see you (hitman) in the middle - you seem to lead the band and being on the left really takes the focal point off you - which really is the strongest part of the band.

you guys should all get singing lessons/ can stassy sing? perhaps some of the harmonies woudl sound better coming from a female than a male... not that you all suck at singing - but perhaps someone can train you to be in pitch/harmonies work together - cause at the end of the day thats waht going to hold you guys back...

Im definitelly keen to check out the scene again - or even put you cats on a show.

As for the middle band - food occupied that time.

BOT were great, much better than last time they performed - vocally it seems that mr kenny is more in his own range - less effort - more comfortable/cruisy - and to me that band is all about the lyrics/melody-guitar - i like em jsut as much as i like karnivool but as a totally different band.

This gig was proof that JJJ has a HUGE impact on numbers @ a gig ...

</end ramble>

[BJN]

I also think in terms of layout - even though you have the keys and stuff - id like to see you (hitman) in the middle - you seem to lead the band and being on the left really takes the focal point off you - which really is the strongest part of the band.

Or maybe have the three guys hidden behind a curtain so we can all focus on Stassy playing the drums.

[Untermensch]

I'm not very good at reviewing gigs (except maybe Gauche ), as to me it's always just a matter of opinion and taste. Hell. I hardly even talk about music anymore. When I do, it's usually just to see someone else's angle on it.

Like for example, Ben didn't seem to warm up to "Chinese Whispers" as much as before, where to me it seemed quite more dynamic than when played at the Lansdowne. It made me like, emotional and stuff.

In general I like the songs overall, and I like how the band incorporates their influences into the song writing in a subtle way. I felt I could hear the older Beatles sound etc, but the music was in no way retro. I've always admired a band that could take these influences and still create a sound that's fresh and contemporary, and I feel TLS do this quite well, and it especially showed last night.

Obviously, this was a louder gig at a bigger venue than the Lansdowne, so I had a bit more trouble hearing some of what was going on some of the time. Like for example, I would see either Troy or Luis pull a few licks here and there, but all i could hear was distortion. But maybe that's just me, seeing I'm going soft in my old age.

And yes, I was even more impressed by Stass's performance this time around. She's FAR too good for this band! Just kidding

Seriously though, everyone else was great. But it looked like Stass was far more into the music than the rest of you guys. It's not like you were all just standing there looking bored though. Just maybe next time I hope to see each member shine through equally.

Not the most in-depth review. But I hope I can write a bit more later, when I wake up a bit.

[Hitman]

Well, i'm still not overly impressed with the "Eleanor Rigby" cover. It doesn't seem to bring anything better than the orginal and in fact lacks the haunting melancholy that The Beatles had in that song.

I understand what you're getting at.

I guess we never intended to better what the Beatles have done. We also didn't want to do a straight faithful cover.
The goal was to take a well written song and make it ours.
As in, if you had never heard it before, and had no idea the Beatles had written it, it would sound like a TLS song.
I think we have achieved that goal. I love the arrangement, and it is extremely fun to play live. We also get a good reaction to it from the majority of people...

I even toyed with the idea of releasing our rendition as a single at some point in the future. Don't think that will happen now, but a recording in some form will eventually surface...

Other than that everything i would have to say would be very positive, except that set was too short! [by the way, set list?]

What about it?

Stassy was uberhot on the drums.

I concur.

Actually, I'd go as far as to say that this is the best I've ever seen Stassy play, not just in this band, but ever.
She impressed the hell out of me, and really inspired me whilst I was playing with her...

There was plentiful impressive Guitar work (both Troy and Luis). In fact, i think i noticed the guitars and bass a lot more this time and thoroughly enjoyed what i heard.

From what I've gathered, it was a good mix out front, which we've never really had...

The new song sounded good.

Princess Damn Devine?

"Chinese Whispers" is a great song to end the set with, but unlike the rest of the songs, i don't think i was feeling that one as much this time.

Really?
Ha ha...

Everything else seemed better than at any previous times i've seen The Locus Scene.

Awesome.

I see us getting better and better...

Meh... i think that's about as in depth as i'm going to go at this stage. Yes, my grammatically incorrect "i"s are on purpose.

Much appreciated...

[Hitman]

good show luis and gang...

prolly the best ive even seen TLS - (prolly only seen you guys 3-4 times though)

I dug it, and only really missed one song...

I think your intro music was cool - but it didnt go anywhere - it was an anticlimax, all i heard was someone strum their guitar and it just killed the build up - i think the real drums should somehow come over it ... or well in some way or another something should come in over it...

I totally agree.

This will be adjusted for future gigs, as per your suggestion...

I dug Stassys drum work, i dug the tones of the guitars, your other dude Troy? (guitars) was a lot more into it than he first appeared in the band - it was great to see some movement/charisma from him -your bass player seemed really boring to watch - off stage he seems like a really cool / loud guy - but that didnt reflect at all - infact i forgot he was on stage until i heard him sing out of key (which most of you did anyway)...

I also think in terms of layout - even though you have the keys and stuff - id like to see you (hitman) in the middle - you seem to lead the band and being on the left really takes the focal point off you - which really is the strongest part of the band.

Really?
You really see me as the focal point of the band?

I just don't know if it's a great idea to have a big keyboard/laptop setup bang in the middle of the stage.

What do other people think? Should I make a move to front and centre?

P.S It Really turns me on when you call me Hitman...

you guys should all get singing lessons/ can stassy sing? perhaps some of the harmonies woudl sound better coming from a female than a male... not that you all suck at singing - but perhaps someone can train you to be in pitch/harmonies work together - cause at the end of the day thats waht going to hold you guys back...

Agreed about vocals being sub par.
I mean, I was battling a throat infection, but still, could have been better, and there's really no excuse.
This is something that is certianly being addressed...

Im definitelly keen to check out the scene again - or even put you cats on a show.

Thanx Edwin, especially for putting us onto the gig in the first place.
Very much appreciated...

As for the middle band - food occupied that time.

BOT were great, much better than last time they performed - vocally it seems that mr kenny is more in his own range - less effort - more comfortable/cruisy - and to me that band is all about the lyrics/melody-guitar - i like em jsut as much as i like karnivool but as a totally different band.

This gig was proof that JJJ has a HUGE impact on numbers @ a gig ...

</end ramble>

BOT > Karnivool

I was actually very pleasantly surprised by the turn out. I mean, I was expecting decent numbers, but not what basically amounted to a packed house. What were the final numbers in the end, do you know?

So happy for BOT.
They're a such a great bunch of guys, and they definitely deserve the attention they are recieving.

Can't wait to see them again actually...