On paper, perhaps this looks like a strange line-up, but Arab Strap and Bright Eyes share a love of alcohol and melancholic songs, and bis have recently remixed some of the Strap's tunes in their own 'eurodisco' way.
The venue is half empty when Bright Eyes come on, which is a shame cos this half hour set is the best I've seen them play. They were easily good enough to convert those people who hadn't heard them before. Songs from most of their releases are played - from the angst ridden 'Kathy With a K's Song' and 'Pull my Hair' to the uptempo (and now percussion dominated) 'The Calendar Hung Itself' and the catchy new single 'Drunk Kid Catholic'. An entertaining performance as ever, Conor getting as carried away as someone who is sitting down with an acoustic guitar can!
I wasn't really looking forward to Bis, as I've kind of lost track of their music, regarding their early stuff as too grating and believing every bad review I've read about their new material. Well, tonight bis are a complete surprise and a very pleasant one too. This new material seems to pick up where the likes of 'Social Dancing' left off, developing their infatuation with New Order style dane-pop. This is nearly as shocking as the fact that Sci-Fi Steven has lost a lot of his hair since I last saw them. Against all odds, 'Eurodisco' is one of the best things we hear all night. Not sure how well the Strap fans took to them, as the response was a little muted.
Not so when Aidan and the rest of them take the stage to a tape of Pharoah Munch's 'Simon Says' and deliver the first line from their 'Philophobia' album - 'It was the biggest cock you've ever seen, but you've no idea where that cock has been'. As good an opening as any! Indeed quite a lot from that album is featured early in the set, and only a few from the new 'Red Thread' are played. It's a fine show, they're on really good form, (not as pissed as previous times I've seen them) sounding a bit more minimal than their new material suggests. The slightly more dance-based material from 'Elephant Shoe' gets the most animated crowd response, and they slotted in a Bob Dylan cover too. Due to memory failure i can't put a name to it, but it was a pleasant surprise.
I've always said to fans of their records who have never wanted to go and see them, that Arab Strap are a better live band than you would actually think, tonight was further proof of that.
BRIGHT EYES + HER SPACE HOLIDAY
London Water Rats 26th October 2000
London Camden Monarch 14th November 2000
Two gigs in the space of a month for these two hotly tipped American imports, both of them licensed in the UK through Wichita Records. Her Space Holiday are very disappointing on both occasions, so I'll say if you like their melancholic version of US indie (think of a duller East River Pipe) stick to the 'Home is Where You Hang Yourself' album and don't bother with the live show.
Bright Eyes, by contrast, are much more entertaining. Hailing from Nebraska, they are a five-piece centred around the magnificent songs of 20 year old Conor Oberst (although he looks younger). Their only UK release is the very fine 'Fevers and Mirrors' album, but rather than just showcase it they play sets which draw on all sorts of material, presumably including the four US releases as well as some new songs. The Water Rats show is the best in my opinion, the band are fresher and the choice of material is better. The very best tunes from 'Fevers' are included, - 'Arienette', 'Sunrise Sunset' and the brilliant 'The Calendar Hung Itself', but some of the other stuff is equally impressive. The opening and closing songs from the Water Rats (which I can't find on any Bright Eyes release) are really striking. Conor has a way with words, a quality which is sadly lacking in today's music scene, and a band that lurch between Pavement, the Pogues and Palace. The potential here is huge.
