The Big Sleep
9 out of 10 - Simply Amazing. Can't wait to see 'em again.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Mercury Lounge, New York
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Recently, a friend of mine asked me if I had ever been to a live performance that was so amazing that I never wanted to hear the studio versions of their songs again. I thought about it for a few minutes, but never came up with an answer.
This past Thursday night at the Mercury Lounge, the Big Sleep celebrated the release of their second full-length album, titled Sleep Forever and supplied me with an answer to the above question.
The sold out show was opened by the dreary and drone sound of the Sian Alice Group.
Immediately upon touching the stage, The Big Sleep made a sharp right and took over. Even though they began with one of the slower song on the record, “Chorus of Guitars” the show was off to a voracious start. The platform was lit with the trademark floodlights that help make the show “belong” to the band and made the performers glow as they masterfully played their instruments. During this tune the stage was packed with the usual players; Danny Barriaon on guitar, Sonya Balchandani on bass, keys, and vocals and Gabe Rhodes on drums. But Gabe was not alone on the kit. Because of a broken hand another drummer joined him.
Soon after this song we were made aware that Gabe did this after drinking too much (how rock n’ roll of him) and he wouldn’t join the band for the rest of the night. Many people sighed upon hearing this news, but when the understudied drummer, David Jack Daniels began pounding along to “Undying Love”, everyone was relieved. He was stellar to say the least and quite literally did not miss a beat.
The rest of the evening continued like a torrential downpour. The band tore through the majority of Sleep Forever with a passion and intensity that most bands couldn’t handle for one song, let alone an entire set. “Pinkies” rocked harder than anything to pass through these ears in some time, but was immediately topped by the electronic noise of “You Can’t Touch the Untouchable” from 2006’s Son of the Tiger. It seemed that every song was better than the last and one wondered how they could continue.
But they did. To end the evening with the shear power of “Slow Race” would have been amazing enough. Nonetheless, the band continued with two more songs - without a break. They closed with the title track from Sleep Forever and many an ear was left ringing.
It’s funny that “The Big Sleep” is a euphemism for death, because though the title somehow fits the band, ain’t nothing but life grinding out of their instruments.
Now, honestly I’ll probably keep my Big Sleep CD’s and even listen to them time and again. But I‘ll always have this past Thursday at the Mercury Lounge in the back of my mind. And that’s how a live show should be.
Set List:
Chorus of Guitars
Undying Love
Bad Blood
Tigers in Our Heart
Pinkies
You Can't Touch the Untouchable
Vs
New Strings
Big Guns
Slow Race Intro
Slow Race
Ptrs
Sleep Forever
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