Concert review of Cloud Nothings and White Lung destroying the Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver on July 23rd 2012.
A few weeks ago I listened to White Lung’s album ‘Sorry’, check the album review, it was clear after less then 15 seconds, no ‘Sorry’ to be honest maybe more like 20 seconds, I really REALLY had to see these guys live (ok, technically 3 girls and 1 guy) as I wanted to experience them blasting the roof of whatever venue they happen to be playing. Blasting is the right verb to use here as if you listen to the album it beats the shit out of your speakers. So to see them live would be to experience if the proof is in the punk rock pudding.
So with this new “to-do” I checked their tour dates and all in a sudden a tweet in this tweeter twit world popped up saying White Lung was the opener for Cloud Nothings on July 23rd at the Biltmore. Hello! Happy surprise day! Not only were Cloud Nothings already on my list of concerts to see, but having White Lung open for them is was a double whammy. So I had a double Dutch reason to put my ID and some cash in my pocket and head out to the Biltmore and be, what i have learned already in my Canadian concert integration, fashionable late.
Making people wait is the best way to build up the some kind of tension, peeps either get frustrated or really really excited. Either way the mental levels are up and energy fills the room. At quarter past ten White Lung did what I expected them to do, twenty minutes of superior punk rock destruction. In your face ! Bleached or unbleached shitzu hair is never quite right on a human….that is for certain. Being insecure about the shitzu look, your look, even when you’re the front girl in punk rock group doesn’t really matter cuz you totally slay it !
Here is my first little tidbit from the show, White Lung destroying “it” with ‘Take The Mirror’.
For more videos of White Lung from the show check out our YouTube channel. While the audience caught their breath, and the roadies were reshuffling the stage behind the black curtains, I started to think back. As my brain re-oxygenized it brought back some memories from a little more than a year ago when I saw Cloud Nothings at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. That night Dylan was beardless, had nerdy high school hair-do, and Cloud Nothings played a solid set of fun punchy punk rock songs. For me it was pretty clear back then that we would be hearing more from Dylan Baldi and his Ohio friends in the future.
First lets’ flashback to a video of ‘Can’t Stay Awake’ from the album Turning On (2010) live at the Paradiso, Amsterdam (2011).
And now to the present as the lights dimmed, the background music stopped, the black curtains opened and a wild haired milksop dude with the same glasses stepped out on stage. It was an attack on my memory and it was a gnarly match to the new Cloud Nothings album ‘Attack On Memory’. Evolving from a high school nerd rock to a bearded revitalized grunged punk rocker within a year…quite a transformation. But it is not just about the looks and presentation but also of course about the music. Decide for yourself by listening to the Soundcloud full album stream on DrownedInSound.
Nothing is wrong with you Mr Baldi, keep on making darker songs like No Future / No Past, No Sentiment, Separation, Cut You and the somewhat upbeat Fall In, Wasted Days, Our Plans and Stay Useless !
Check out the video, a fuzz favourite, of ‘Stay Useless’ live at the Biltmore.
Without exception all Attack On Memory songs were played superbly. An excellent set of long and short, up, down, down and up. The live sound was at certain moments Nirvana-esk in a good way especially when Dylan scream singed in Cobainish way through songs. The encore didn’t really matter it was the final eruption with some good old songs being the icing on this Monday nights double slayer cake !
Check out this video of extended version of ‘No Future/Past’…around 4:23…tell us what you think of the somewhat echoed vocals.
…and here is the video of ‘Our Plans’.
I am loving these Monday night gigs, who needs an alarm clock for Tuesday mornings !
Till next time and don’t forget to fuzz on !