There is a mysterious alchemy to what makes a great gig. It’s a magical combination of sight, sounds, songs, audience, venue, setlist, the company, the band, the mood, the light, the mix and the beer. It’s undefined and impossible to manufacture as the same band can play the same songs at the same venue two nights in a row and it will be different.
Last night was one of those nights where the Musical chemist had the tools but just couldn’t get the ingredients to work together. It’s always difficult to compare concerts as they will always suffer from two factors. The last gig you saw and what the band were like the last time you saw them. Unfortunately The War on Drugs disappointed with both comparisons. After the three hour musical joy that was last Thursday’s Jason Isbell gig and WOD’s last epic jam at the Electric Ballroom they came up short.
A sold out Koko meant that you alternated your breathing with the person next to you and sight of the stage was a challenge even at 6’ 2. Muddy sound to start with didn’t help the night get off a good start and the audience offered polite but muted applause. The addition of a trumpet to the band to complement the new songs was on paper a good idea but he was lost so far down in the mix that the drivers on the Northern Line below us had to avoid him.
The War on Drugs are very much a mood band. Purveyors of three minute catchy pop tunes they aint and that is not a criticism of either genre as I will happily enjoy both. Adam Granduciel is no Michael Jackson with his face obscured by a mass of hair. I had early fears that this gig could go the same way as the ill-fated Kurt Vile (ironically former WOD bandmate) gig a couple of years back but fortunately that was not the case. Showcasing the new album the highlights for me were obvious ‘Under the pressure’ and ‘Eyes to the Wind’ and a not too shabby version of Lennon’s ‘Mind Games’.
What the gig lacked was momentum, there were some real highs but then it was let down by dare I say it a bit of a dirge. The mood was not helped by the constant chatter of ignorant gits at the back of the venue who despite spending twenty quid preferred the sound of their own voices to that of the band. It’s a pet hate of mine and one for another day.
All in all not a great gig but one that had moments of greatness. On another night, at another venue with another audience this review could and would be a whole lot different.
Keep on rockin’ y’all.