On Saturday night Mona took to the stage supported by Tribes. Nick Brown, Mona's frontman, snuck out from backstage to watch Tribes play...I think really to assess the location but I don't think he was disappointed. Mona played as if they were in the largest and most traditional of venues and embraced the library with the usual "shhhh it's a library" type comments. The atmosphere was incredible, better than the Devlin gig but maybe I'm just biased because it's more my kind of music.
Mona at Lancaster Library, 19 February
On Sunday afternoon (yes...during the day time, weird right?) I was at the Yuck gig. They were supported by Pegasus Bridge who reminded me of The Kooks with a more electric feel. They have a great, positive sound that worked really well with the afternoon setting but that was also the failing for both bands because people just don't get as excited in the afternoon as in the evening. There was little dancing and interaction during songs, no clapping/singing along, but that's not to say it wasn't enjoyable.
Pegasus Bridge at Lancaster Library, 20 February
Edward Turner's vocals are what makes this band for me. It was good enough to convince me to buy the CD (the first CD I've purchased in about five years) and they have been the soundtrack to any travelling I have done over the last 24 hours. My friend was singing along to Ribena after only hearing it once and it is this infectious catchiness that makes them so popular, especially with teenage girls who swarmed around the band afterwards.
Yuck at Lancaster Library, 20 February
Yuck were, of course, amazing and coped with the effects of the gig setup perfectly. Two little girls stood right in front of Daniel Blumberg the entire time, dancing along and staring. (This is what you get for having no age restrictions and an afternoon time slot.) He smiled at them and said: "You're supposed to clap when we finish a song...I'm joking, only clap if you actually like it." They even carried on when, during the last song, those same girls knocked over a microphone. I can't wait to get their album, which came out today.
I am continuously surprised with how well bands take to the playing a gig in a library. They all seem to find it weird at first but adapt to it really well and afterward gush about how good the idea is. Ed, from Pegasus Bridge, said: "It was a little strange being to see every face in the room, but I enjoyed it." I think it's the uniqueness and the intimate living room feeling that it generates. You can't get more intimate than having a room full of people staring at you in broad daylight.
Cool!
ReplyDeleteMy friend has a band that plays at a bar called the library. Not the same thing, I know.
It is incredibly cool. Not quire the same thing but it's a start. Best time I've had in a library but if one more band/the audience makes some kind of "sssh we're in a library" comment I may snap.
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