As predicted, a really good show. This week is UK's finest Elbow, new young talent MGMT and Canadian singer songwriter Alanis Morissette.The set:
Elbow
- Grounds For Divorce
- The Bones Of You
- One Day Like This
- Electric Feel
- Time To Pretend
- Hands Clean
- Perfect
- Hand In My Pocket
At last, a decent consistently good show with solid performances and plenty of variety. One major contribution to this is the mighty Elbow. They are in a league of their own and truly put most of the performing artists to shame (across the entire series and not this show). Garvey and the boys are consummate professionals, sacrificing a dynamic performance for focus and concentration. Opening song 'Grounds For Divorce' has a subtly different guitar arrangement but the essence is still there; particularly effective is Garvey hitting a huge metal rod during the guitar led non-chorus. 'The Bones Of You' sounds like an old Elbow track - all vocal melody and deceptive simplicity. You get the impression that the band just turned up and performed, getting it spot on at the first take (Garvey's comments at the end of 'Grounds For Divorce' suggest otherwise) but you never think that perfectionism would lead to several days worth of different takes. The band talk briefly about being dropped by their record label (Island) and despite being gutted, they told everyone that it was a good thing. By the end of the night they believed in their own propaganda and went on to make (more) great music. This is eluded to in a short piece about how the band have stayed together through it all. The backing singers pick up violins and a cello for the big finale 'One Day Like This' which is a stirring anthem and just about perfect. An excellent set from a great British band.
MGMT are very strange. They turn up in a tour bus and we get a very dull tour. Of the tour bus. This is supposed to be one of the hottest new bands around and I just don't get it. They sound and look like a couple of hippies and when performing they have a laid back cool vibe but it is all a bit boring. 'Electric Feel' is ok (a comment is made about someone singing the wrong second chorus lyrics which could just be a joke) but big hit 'Time To Pretend', complete with uncensored drug references, is a great song even if the subject is a bit of a cliché. The song is peculiarly explained in an intro about a praying mantis and a model ship. The band only get two songs which is a shame but probably sufficient.
Alanis Morissette has been through a lot. This is summed up in the comment: 'fame doesn't change things, it amplifies what is already there'. She now seems fairly content with life and music. I was expecting a set full of new songs from her new album Flavors of Entanglement but instead we are treated to new acoustic arrangements of 'Hands Clean' (from Under Rug Swept) and then 'Perfect' and 'Hand In My Pocket' from big breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill (not her debut as most people think). This approach has been taken before on her Unplugged version of the album so it works well, exposing her great song writing and her voice. There are a few issues on 'Perfect' (ironically) but most of it is excellent. She can still sing with strength and control. Not sure the harmonica works though.
A great show with Elbow and Alanis the highlights, not just of the show but the series so far. It beats more of Herbie Hancock any day.
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