Agalloch

It was an awesome show!
One thing I forgot, I smelled something that I thought was weed during the show deff had a burning wood smell. My brother who was more center stage than I said it was something near John that would put out that smoke. I wonder if it was the wood the band is named after?

And you are so right about variation, and the 4 acts were certainly all different. Though the first 3 all were alike in that they were introspective, very them and us ya know? Made the concert a bit rough actually, but also Agalloch so much better to see them come out with energy!
Oh and there was no moshing, it was all slow trance or headbanging. During some parts when they really thrashed we got bouncing, like up onto our toes. Remember this crowd was mostly hipster/prog and/or avant metal fan so bouncing was the most extreme we got


Edited by The Angry Scotsman - 23 Mar 2011 at 3:05am

Agalloch
March 22nd, New York City

Saw Agalloch at Le Poisson Rouge. They played with Ariel Ruin, Daniel Menche, and Worm Ouroboros.

Ariel Ruin was a solo artist, a man and an acoustic guitar. Played folky riffs with nice singing. His voice was a bit meh at times. Good act but pretty samey. Not sure I'd ever listen again.

Daniel Menche was another solo artist, a noise musician. The entire stage was in darkness except for a red light on his table of pedals and gadgets. The whole time there was this, well noise and he sat at his table changing volumes, adding various noises, and what looked like a metal strip with some type of mic on it. He held to his throat, drone singing, screaming, hitting the strip to create a thumping and at one point was hitting himself with it. It was quite an experience...one that you felt more than heard. And seeing this man in red glow pushing himself to insanity was beyond words.

Worm Ouroboros is what I can only describe as a post rock band. A trio with females on Guitar and Bass (and vocals) and Aesop Dekker on drums, their songs were lengthy and abruptly changed from ambient passages with bass and sparse gentle guitar, to walls of noise. Really good act, one I'd like to listen too but was difficult for concert.
They were your typical shoegazers, very quiet, little emotion on stage, almost audience interaction, even told someone next to me in the crowd not to use flash. Also their was little build, just light/heavy/light/heavy but still a good act.

Agalloch of course was awesome. My only complaint is that it was difficult to hear John. Often I just heard a screaming...I could make out his voice but that's it. This may have been due to the sound guy who had Worm Ouroboro's bass way to high as well...but the show was great.
Agalloch were surprisingly into it. John mainly stayed to his chair playing guitar and standing to sing, but the bassist and Don Anderson moved around a lot. Don was really into the show, often standing on the edge of stage, interacting with the audience, sometimes flat out running across stage, sang along the whole time and even rocked out a bit. Given the 3 introspective acts before...this was nice. And it's always good to see a band into it, especially when sincere.

They did a few stand alone songs but most of the show was in a medley style. They played almost all of "Marrow of the Spirit" in some form and a lot from "Ashes Against the Grain". They also did a surprising number from "Of Stone Wind and Pillor". The concert also seemed like a big fan favor, as most of the songs were quite thrashier than on the albums. Faster, a lot more double bass and thrash drumming. Also there were a few extended sections so we could rock out.

The 3 of them held their guitars in the air as the music ended and walked off stage, leaving their instruments buzzing and leaving feedback. After a bit of the noise, they came back for an encore and ended the show with the only song they played from the Mantle: In the Shadow of our Pale Companion

Good show, and good guys who really seemed into the show and were thankful. Supposedly was their first time playing in NYC.
Left in a hurry, but Don did stay on stage for a minute or two and shook hands with anyone who wanted.





Edited by The Angry Scotsman - 23 Mar 2011 at 2:25am

Oh Jonas you need to listen to The Mantle. That album was one of those that really blew my mind. Not just really good but hit me on a deep level.
Although all their stuff is pretty good.

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Would love to see these guys live, The Mantle was pure bliss to me.

The growling/whispers of Haughm are an aesthetic to me, I no longer see them as harsh (and they are not even that).

found them

Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - 16 Oct 2010 at 8:34am

Great song list indeed.

Regardless of volume, I'd kill to see Agalloch live.
I could see a small, intimate venue being very fitting, and powerful, for Agalloch

the thing about smaller venues is that they manage to creat a wonderful atmosphere...but both concerts in romania sounded like hell - volume to loud and the distorsion went crazy at some point. so: bonus points for atmosphere, minus points for the fact that they have an obsession playing with a very loud volume - they gave me a headake

I'd say there's not big chances to ever witness them in Finland, so all I have is their live DVD "The Silence of Forgotten Landscapes". Good performance, black&white picture fits well, and not much to complain at all.