Pelican - The Garage, London - 7th April 2012 (Live Review)
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Written by Ben Bland
It has been far too long since Chicago instrumental post-metal masters Pelican have graced the UK’s shores and as such expectations for tonight’s gig, the first of a UK tour, are pretty much at fever pitch.
Before Pelican take to the stage however, there is the small matter of two fine local bands to consider as support. Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster are clearly influenced by tonight’s headliners. Their take on post-whatever sometimes lacks the clarity and cohesiveness of the genre’s best but at times, such as during closer 'Wake', it is utterly captivating. Tonight’s set is rendered entirely instrumental due to the recent departure of the band’s vocalist but on this evidence vocals are hardly needed for the band to produce a top notch set.
Unlike the openers, Bo Ningen are not clearly influenced by Pelican. In fact it is hard to establish what, if anything, may have influenced the London based Japanese quartet’s intoxicating blend of everything noisy. Their live performance is, as always, completely chaotic but also stupendously exhilarating. Whatever it is that inspires them to do this the way they do it, more bands should take note because the results are genuinely breath-taking.
At their best of course Pelican are more than breath-taking. They are a monumental musical force, not just captivating but all-encompassing. Their newer material may be more concise than the longer works of old but it is no less powerful and kicking off with new track 'Lathe Biosas' (from the excellent new 'Ataraxia / Triaxis' EP) proves this point in sublime style. As the set progresses the four band members become more and more enthralled by their music, becoming men totally in sync with their riffs and textures. The likes of 'Ephemeral' and 'Strung up from the Sky' fly by swiftly before, rather bizarrely, 'Last Day of Winter' ends with the quartet trooping off stage.
Thankfully they return for an all too short rendition of 'Mammoth' from their debut EP, which is rendered shorter than usual due to a power issue, but then they are gone again. This really is a gig that is over far too quickly. A mere hour or so after they arrived, Pelican have gone. Their set truly is sumptuous, even if it completely ignores fan favourite debut album 'Australasia', but many attendees can be heard grumbling on their way out about an all too short set. Perhaps though, they should just be grateful that Pelican came at all, and realise that an hour or so of the Chicago titans is better than two hours of most bands anyway.
'Ataraxia/Triaxis', the new EP from Pelican, is out now on Southern Lord.
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Before Pelican take to the stage however, there is the small matter of two fine local bands to consider as support. Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster are clearly influenced by tonight’s headliners. Their take on post-whatever sometimes lacks the clarity and cohesiveness of the genre’s best but at times, such as during closer 'Wake', it is utterly captivating. Tonight’s set is rendered entirely instrumental due to the recent departure of the band’s vocalist but on this evidence vocals are hardly needed for the band to produce a top notch set.
