Last night’s Black Angels show was one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. You’d be hard pressed to find a better psychedelic rock band today. And don’t be quick to dismiss them as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on a few more hits, because The Black Angels are in a class of their own, giving life to a genre that has been fairly underground for years. If you’re a fan of bands like Spacemen 3, Darkside, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Secret Machines and The Black Keys you will enjoy The Black Angels.
The Troubadour was packed with music fans. The real music fans that came to dance, be sonically mesmerized and by all means blown away. It always helps to have a lively crowd. There were moments throughout the show that I just forgot where I was part of a crowd. I was so focused on what was happening on the stage and coming out of the PA that when I came to it looked like everyone else was on the same page. The guitars roared through your head, the drums shook your insides and sometimes you’d lose focus on the players for a moment to see the porn, cartoons and collage of images playing on the screen behind the band. The band were masters of complete visual and auditory warfare. They were determined to take you on their trip and who were you to say no?
The Quarter After opened the evening with an amazing set that made The Tyde look like a bunch of wanna-be posers, but both bands played great sets.
