Live Music Zurich: Foster the People @ Komplex 457 27/08/12

Yes after a 4 day music festival I was indeed at yet another concert last night (I seriously need some sleep). I missed Foster's set at the Electric Picnic festival last year as they clashed with 'The Rapture' so I couldn't let their visit to Zurich go by without making it up to them.

How considerate, no
eardrum explosion

The guys were playing a rather cool venue only 15 minutes cycle from our apartment, Komplex 457. I loved the layout and the feel of this particular venue, size of the stage, the high ceilings, multiple bars, roof terrace smoking area (my cooling area more like) and food stall (see there's an idea Irish Music venues, feed the kids and maybe they won't be so drunk). There was a lot to like about this particular venue. Considering we had been Open-Airing for the last 4 days, we decided to stand closer to the back near the door so we could just take it all in and lean against the wall if needed (I am getting old). I didn't think I would be able to give the guys much other than my presence.

How wrong was I? After the so-so opening act (sorry Mr Toby guy but not for me) the boys leaped on stage to huge applause. Whilst I struggled for energy the boys informed the audience that this was the last stop on their 18 month tour, over 200 shows performed yet through it all they showed no signs of fatigue. 'Houdini' and 'Call it What you Want' thrown out with the energy of a band performing their very first stop on a worldwide tour. How could I not give them my all with behavior like this. Four songs in I had found my 35th wind and was regretting my choice of standing spot. I wanted to be in the thick of it and throwing some serious shapes.

Yet through it all I just couldn't shake a feeling. I was an avid gig goer in Ireland and have heard for years bands say things like they love to play Dublin and Irish fans are the best fans in the world but I used to think that was something bands just say. Yet there was something subdued about this crowd in my opinion, don't get me wrong the crowd did everything right, they clapped and screamed at the end of each song, shoulders were bopping but it all felt oh so very civilized to me. Where was that mass of super fans at the front of the stage who never stop bouncing? Who know every word to every song? Who are lost in the complete love and joy at seeing their favorite band for the very first time? Where were the crazies who try to storm the stage? Who try to crowd surf? Where were my beloved concert staples, those avid gig goers who remind me of what I was like when I was younger. I did not see them last night.

I was beginning to lose it by the time the band played 'Helena Beat' and wanted nothing more than to rush to the front of the stage and give this band back as much energy as they were putting out to us but my 27 year old self only just overpowered my 18 year old self's thoughts. I started to think that maybe the crowd was just holding back until the bands biggest hit 'Pumped up Kicks', no doubt to be the closing song (and it was).

The white thing with the eyes

Yet to my horror as the opening chords of the song began to play, I saw no jumping bodies, no extra dancing, none of the usual, no instead I saw a slew of hands in the air, holding iPhones, Blackberries and other smart phones all set to record. You have waited this long for your favourite song to be played and your response is to stand very still and record it, this in itself an act that tarnishes your enjoyment of the very thing you love (believe me I know, I recorded the occasional song from a gig, they always come out crap and having to hold still eats into time better spent getting down). Eventually hands started to descend and this crowd finally began to lose it slightly but I felt it was not enough especially when the band set off their stage effect of this giant inflatable creature seen on the front of their album cover. We owed them more for such an energetic set people.

I made a resolution to myself that for my next gig in Zurich I would give it my all. If there is anybody else going to Grimes in Abart on the 18 of November that wants to join me you will find me at the front of the stage dancing my ass off.

GBM

GBM loves Music: Dark Dark Dark @ el Lokal 16/04/12

So whilst on a visit to Zurich to see Husband before I finally make the big move we decided to check out our first ever live gig in the city. Dark Dark Dark an American band from Minneapolis were playing a small venue called el Lokal on Gesssnerallee next to the river. Hearing a band live for the first time or the sight of a cool, ascetically pleasing new music venue can fill me with all the awe and wonderment of a child's first visit to the zoo. El Lokal did not disappoint.

Once through the main door you are greeted with the first floor bar and a breathtaking N-shaped staircase the encumbers much of the rear wall of the building. The venue itself has an interesting vibe with stickers, pictures and graffiti covering it’s walls, toilet doors similar to those flapping doors of an old time western saloon and random roads signs and brick-o-brac scattered throughout. The stage is tiny and not too high off the ground giving the feeling the band is right amongst the crowd, heightening the intimacy. Ascending the stairs we notice each step is divided down the middle by white line, the purpose of which became apparent once the band graced the stage and people began to seat themselves on the staircase. Each right hand-half step now became the best seats in the house whilst the left hand side was left free to avoid fire hazard, something I’ve noted for my next trip back. At the top of the stairs we are greeted by a very cute and friendly barmaid who responds to my ‘Sprichen Sie English’ with the warmest of smiles and a heart warming ‘Yes’. We order our reasonably priced beers and take a seat near the edge of the ledge with a great view down to the stage below. It is then that Husband points out to me the incredibly huge human model skeleton hanging from the rafters. Yes, I do think I might have begun a slight love affair with el Lokal.

It was a cold dark rainy night, none more better suited to ‘Dark Dark Dark’s’ somber and beautiful style of music. The band land on the stage at 8:30 and it’s an unusual sight. Five very individual looking people, no cohesion in style, looks, a mish-mash of flavors and tastes that doesn’t look like it should work when altogether. That’s the beauty of music however because as soon as they begin to play it’s perfect unity and cohesion and then I get it.

As an avid gig goer it is incredibly refreshing to see a band tour with lesser seen instruments and so it was thoroughly enjoyable to listen to the delicate resonance of the flute and the accordion. In fact the accordion player is a revelation, at times giving me goosebumps with the Parisian sound he bought to the auditory ensemble. Then there’s Nona Marie Invie’s lead vocal, hauntingly beautiful with element’s of ‘Regina Spektor’ in her voice. When she begins to sing the band's cover of their ‘friend’s’ Elephant Micah’s song ‘Wild Goose Chase’ the hairs on the back of my arm begin to stand on end.



It’s at this point I realise how amazing the sound setup is at el Lokal. Scanning the crowd I get the sense that for the majority of the attendees this is their first taste of ‘Dark Dark Dark’ as I appeared to be the only person who was singing along (though this could be a very un-Swiss thing to do) but by the end of their set the crowds’ reaction was such the called for not one but two encores (however the first one seemed very planned as we on the second floor balcony could see the band come off stage walk up the stairs and stand at the top for a few seconds only to return back to the stage). The first brought one of my favorite songs of theirs ‘Bright Bright Bright’ in all of its eerie pleasantry. The second encore saw Nona Marie return to the stage solo, to preform a Kate Bush song to finish off the proceedings. A fine end to mine and Husband’s first live music experience together in Switzerland.

Standout Songs: ‘Celebrate’, ‘Bright Bright Bright’, ‘Wild Goose Chase’ and ‘Daydreaming’

Wish they had played: ‘The Hand’ and ‘Make Time’