Agalloch - March 22nd, New York City

feel · The Mantle

Saw Agalloch play at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC. 

They played with Ariel Ruin, Daniel Menche, and Worm Ouroboros. 

Ariel Ruin was a solo act, a man and an acoustic guitar. Played folky riffs with some nice singing. Very samey. A nice act but wouldn't want to listen again. 

Daniel Menche was another solo act, a noise musician. With the whole stage in darkness except for a red light on this table of pedals and gizmos, he filled the room with this perpetual noise (though with the slightest trace of a beat in it) and at his table tweaking the noise, adding others, etc. He had what I think was a mic, but looked like a metal strip that he held to his throat while drone singing, growling, screaming, and would hit to add a thumping noise. At one point he started hitting himself with it. It was something had to feel to really get the full scope, and watching him push himself to insanity was just beyond words. Not bad really, not too loud either (compared to what you'd expect with a noise artist).

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 

Whole act itself was simple, lighting and some smoke. John had various cool folky things around him including something that was sending a smoke that had an earthy smell, like some type of burning wood. Given the bands nature and atmosphere, this was very appropriate and smelled nice. 

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 JJLehto - March 23 2011 at 03:00