Mercury Rev / Six By Seven / The (International) Noise Conspiracy - London Royal Festival Hall - 27/6/02
4/5
By: Toby L
Mercury Rev Set-List: 'Funny', 'Chains', 'Rhymes', 'Tides', 'Lincoln's', 'Holes', 'Tonite', 'Goddess', 'Spiders', 'Opus', 'Dark'.
Slowly drawing to a close, Bowie's Meltdown 2002 has pretty much been a consistent ride of quality from start to finish, albeit with a few surprises - and tonight is hardly an exception.
Yet, if there's one thing to be certain, it is most probably that Mercury Rev will be flawless in any given live-scenario. From festivals to packed-out shows of their own, such as the one this evening, there's certainly little chance of yawning during one of their finely-crafted performances - indeed, the only reason that your mouth would need to open when witnessing one of their epic and masterful sets is because your jaw has most likely dropped in amazement.
First up, however, is the ever-appealing indie-eeriness of Six By Seven, who this evening are subjected to a mere six-song show. Still, on hearing Chris Olley's ever-mournful vocals (in a fine and intriguing way, mind) and the quartet's bold instrumental-arrangements in the shape of 'So Close', all's forgiven, such numbers moodily brooding and building until forming crescendos of layered sound. A closing and scintillating 'The Way I Feel Today' - conveniently, also the title of their current, strong album - rounds off their jagged charm fittingly, bearing all the musical-fluency and rhythmic power that their semi-emerging contemporaries struggle to reproduce in a live-setting.
In fact, what was witnessed previously with 6x7 is a rather odd way to open for an act such as the 'Rev. With the latter headliners providing expansive synths and involving atmospherics - via chiming guitar and Jonathan Donahue's ever-exquisite high-pitched croon throughout - their concerts aren't so much mere 'concerts' as they are events.
Next to nothing is uttered as means of band-crowd interaction tonight, notably - apart from an amusing heckle from one of the seated-audience members, who bellows in a worrying 'Jerry Springer'-style, 'COME ON JONATHAN,' to the group's charismatic frontman - yet this is made up for by the singer's peculiar Jarvis Cocker-esque hand-movements and faithful renditions of tracks from all sectors of their past.
Predominantly available throughout, though - naturally - is the newer material from current LP, 'All Is Dream', including the piano-led lullaby, 'Spiders & Flies' and a main show closing 'The Dark Is Rising', which designates the second standing-ovation of the evening... And, in case you're wondering, it's 'Opus 40' which prompts the first standing-ovation (following a joyous collection of lush hymns such as 'Tonite It Shows' and an ever-divine 'Goddess On A Hiway'), the version proving completely irresistible, its nagglingly catchy verses and choruses transcending into pounding drums and an instrumental section which goes on to feature Monsieur Donahue quoting lyrics from the Talking Heads classic, 'Once In A Lifetime'. Weird? Of course, but in a perfect way. Absolutely faultless.
On exiting the hall and beginning a walk down several flights of staircases, a final treat is in sight - in the guise of Sweden's The (International) Noise Conspiracy rocketing their way through a tight and explosive set, their incendiary anthem 'Smash It Up' slapping up against tales of '40 days and 40 nights' and other Marxist, anti-capitalist anthems - complete with their already-legendary matching-uniforms to boot... Clearly, a satisfying close to one of those evenings when, musically, anything could have happened - and it did.
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