Image by Eleanor Whitney
My Bloody Valentine blows minds and eardrums in Glasgow, Scotland
July 3, 2008, at Barrowland
By Eleanor Whitney
Published: July 6th, 2008 | 9:00pm
British-Irish shoegaze luminary My Bloody Valentine played July 3 to an enthusiastic crowd at Glasgow, Scotland’s Barrowland. Through feedback-drenched loops, shimmering vocal harmonies, and driving drum and bass work, My Bloody Valentine reminded showgoers that it is, behind all the legend and hype, a rock band.
A reunion show used to seem an improbable dream for many fans. Soon after the release of 1991's Loveless (Sire), the band became inactive and reportedly scrapped albums' worth of new material due to singer-guitarist Kevin Shields’ rumored perfectionism. MBV's All Tomorrow's Parties–presented appearance in Glasgow was the band's third reunion show in the UK, following one in London and another in Manchester. The band is curating the first U.S. ATP festival in late September, where it will play its first U.S. show in 16 years.
Audience members shifted in anticipation as a long-awaited dream was on the verge of coming true. Upon eyeing the 13 amplifiers that Shields, singer-guitarist Bilinda Butcher, and bassist Debbie Goodge would use, one fan remarked in a heavy Scottish accent, “This is going to be acoustically ludicrous.” In addition to the native Scots, it was clear from the number of languages overheard that many, including this writer, had traveled great distances to catch the band at Barrowland. A converted dance hall, it had been host to ballroom dances attended by many Glaswegian showgoers’ grannies. The sprung wooden floor was equally forgiving for the enthusiastic pogoing and moshing that occurred later that evening by the progressively sweatier My Bloody Valentine fans.
The set drew from the band's most well known releases, Loveless (Sire), and 1988’s full-length Isn’t Anything (Creation/Sire) and EP untitled [You Made Me Realize] (Creation). After a long sound check, the band took the stage and began with “I Only Said,” and “When You Sleep.” Hearing these songs live united the audience in an intense, collective moment, as many closed their eyes and sang along. “Blow A Wish” brought a poppier, undersea quality to the set, which was enhanced by flashing strobe lights and abstract, blurry, digital video projections of leaves, clouds, and patterns throughout. Later songs packed a heavier, punkier punch, especially on grunge-driven “Slow.”
The band’s delivery was stoic. Members didn't directly address the audience at all until “Come In Alone” suddenly screeched to a mid-song halt. Unruffled, Shields mumbled, “We’re just going to finish that song.” He said nothing else the entire set. He did not respond while audience members chanted “Kevin, Kevin!” and yelled, “Kevin Shields is god!,” though he did sneak a satisfied glance at the crowd chanting, “MBV! MBV!” through amused, half-closed eyes before launching into “Soon.”
The sound deteriorated throughout the set and, during “Sueisfine,” the vocals were completely lost under snarling guitars and pounding drums. However, it was on the last song, “You Made Me Realise,” that the band took the noise it had been keeping tightly under control all evening up a notch. The song quickly transitioned into ear-splitting, floor-shaking drone that was like being inside of a jet engine during takeoff. A few minutes into this, concertgoers ran in droves for the exits with their hands over their ears and took cover near the bar and T-shirt stand while the feedback roared on. After 20 minutes of pulsating improvisation the band crashed back into the melody, pausing for Butcher’s vocals to pierce the hall for a single line, “You made me realize.” With that, they set down their instruments, let the feedback build up again, calmly walked off stage, and played no encore.
Afterward, one friendly Scot said she had seen My Bloody Valentine play a nearly identical set 15 years ago at the same venue. However, if this is any indication of things to come, U.S. audiences are in for a treat in the fall.
Issue #35
Comments
Please login to be able to comment on this article.
more