concert review: Margot & the Nuclear So and So's @GAMH 16 May 2009

Last Saturday night, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s played Great American Music Hall. The eight piece band hail from Indianapolis and really truly go above and beyond in the orchestral pop genre. Their layered sound only increased on stage, and the band’s haunting set left me completely speechless.

From the first song (“A Children’s Crusade on Acid", one of my absolute favourites), however, I noticed that their lead singer Richard wasn’t delivering like I thought he would. He was quieter, not projecting his usually powerful voice. He soon explained that he had lost his voice for the first time in years, and apologized profusely for the state of things. Regardless, the amount of passion which he and his seven band mates delivered was awe inspiring. Richard’s relentless efforts were evident on stage, as he kept massaging his throat and tried his best to hit the difficult notes. It pained me to see him so pained, and I almost hoped that he wouldn’t come out for an encore, for his sake (he did anyways).

To my delight, the band played many songs off of their first prelabel album, The Dust of Retreat, which I had only recently purchased, but fell immediately in love with. Their strongest songs, “Quiet as a Mouse” and “Skeleton Key” come from that album, and the band played both of them. Everything considered, the concert was amazing, and Great American was, once again, the perfect accompaniment to the sonic booming emanating from such a wide array of instruments.
3.9/5

set list (click to enlarge):


Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - Quiet as a Mouse [mp3]

The two opening bands were Everything Now and Telekinesis. Everything Now had great energy, but lacked substance. Their music wasn’t interesting and the lead singer wasn’t particularly talented. However, they reminded me a lot of Delta Spirit in their impassioned delivery, which turned a handful of mediocre songs into a pretty enjoyable performance.
2.5/5

Telekinesis, on the other hand, was incredible. The Seattle band reminded me a lot of a more aggressive Jack’s Mannequin meets Death Cab song writing. Their set was flawless, led resolutely by their lead singer, who also played drums. The only parts I didn't like were the acoustic-y intros to some of their songs, which I later found that I LOVED on record. When I picked up their album, everything fell into place as I read the sticker saying “produced by Chris Walla”. I will post a proper review of their album soon, it’s really great.
4.5/5

everything now:


telekinesis:




margot & the nuclear so and so's:

when did I become so anti-social?

seriously, now.

all I ever do is work, read, translate, write, transcribe and listen to music. (well, ok, so I do sleep occasionally, run daily and eat/breathe/drink water. but that's about it.)

the only places I ever frequent are record shops and music venues; 95% of the time, I'm alone.

I used to only go to concerts after finding someone to drag along; then I started buying tickets in twos, and finding someone to bring along with me sometime before the show, but that soon started taking a toll on my budget, not to mention sometimes I couldn't find people who wanted to accompany me to see super obscure indie bands. I mean, I'd always manage to bring a friend along, but they usually wouldn't enjoy it as much as I would. and that is just unacceptable in my book: the inability to appreciate good music.

so, as not to start forsaking my friends, I started going to shows alone. and I'd have so much fun doing it. I still do. it's nice, not having someone tugging at your shirt like a little kid, wanting to leave right after the show. hey, I like to chill after a good show, talk to the bands, whatever. I take my good ol' time and don't mind getting back home in the wee hours of morn.

anyway, the crazy thing is,
I'm so happy.
seriously.
I've stopped needing superficial human interaction. it's quite nice.
I was quite solitary as a kid. a social butterfly throughout middle and high school, and my first 3 1/2 years of college.
now, I don't mind being at parties or with friends or whatever, but the lack thereof doesn't bother me in the least.

anyhow, what brought this about was, I made my decision,
I'm going to the Margot and the Nuclear So and So's show on my graduation's night.

music euphoria > imminent hangover following celebrating-with-English-majors
no question.

watch and you might understand:



you can find tour dates HERE, but that list isn't exhaustive: it doesn't, for example, include the SF date on May 16th. I came across it on GAMH's website.

I listened to Animal! over and over this winter, and it never seemed to satisfy me even though the music was beautiful and the lyrics, astounding
what I've been missing is their live sound.
less than two months separate me from that.

Margot and the Nuclear So and So's - As Tall As Cliffs [mp3]
from Animal!, the band approved, vinyl release

Margot and the Nuclear So and So's - The Shivers (I Got 'Em) [mp3]
from Not Animal, the label approved one
some great guitar work here