 Aqualung |
 The Perishers |
 Aqualung |
Story and photos by Matt Schwenke
If ever there were music to soothe the most restless of souls, The Perishers whispery vocal lines and moody melodies are certainly that. Setting the tone early with the soft and slow "Weekends" from the group's latest release Let There Be Morning, lead vocalist Ola Kluft coaxed the crowd into relaxing back in their seats as the band slowly created wide-open spaces around Kluft's hushed vocals. Occasionally pulsing at a higher heart rate as in the song "Sway," the highlight of The Perishers sleepy set was the deliberate and energizing "Still Here."Like a sugar buzz, however, the pulses of audience members were sent back to resting levels after The Perishers ended their set with the gentle title track "Let There Be Morning."
Picking up where The Perishers left off, Matt Hales of Aqualung was careful not to wake the audience too quickly in his equally hushed singing on "You Turn Me Round." With a haunting falsetto that brings to mind Jeff Buckley, the music later touched the realms of Coldplay and Radiohead, but with a stripped-down, more organic approach that can be found in the aforementioned bands' earliest recordings. Staying in this bare and emotionally vulnerable niche throughout the show, Hales proved his songwriting deserves credit with the unique textures infused in "Left Behind" and "7 Keys." Aqualung also often stirred deep undercurrents of emotion that peaked in an emo-like fashion with guitars blazing and keys pounding as evidenced in the turbulence of "Good Times Gonna Come" or in the wandering rock segments of "If I Fall." Keeping a good balance of tempo throughout, Hales, who was endearing with his bits of banter and improv between songs, politely told the audience it would be "kind of cute" if they quietly sang along to the radio-friendly and smooth-edged "Brighter Than Sunshine" to end the set-- a few murmurs could be heard.
Coming back on stage quickly with "Another Little Hole," Aqualung ended the night in a dramatic, up-tempo fashion with the crowd singing along to a version of Queen's "Somebody To Love."
Aqualung
The Perishers
The Perishers
AqualungHere's Your Chance to.... Respond!
Your feedback will be featured on
Rant or Rave within 24 hours.
