White Denim & Pivot - Cargo, London - 3/7/08
5/5
By: Sam Crawford
With White Denim being hotly tipped everywhere (including here) as been the next big exciting ball of fun to arrive in the music scene, coupled with the fact I've already heard a mightily impressive bunch of tracks off their new album, tonight's gig was surely one to look forward to.
I've also got just as much anticipation about seeing Pivot. After reviewing their EP in June and loving it, as well as watching them play at Rockfeedback's club night and being blown away, I try my best not to piss my pants with excitement. Luckily I succeed in this respect.
Pivot are one of Warp Records' newest offerings, and their music refreshingly does not conform to any rigid or cumbersome genre. The three of them deftly manoeuvre between dirty screeching guitar sounds, an eclectic mix of retro and fresh synth effects and some original, complex and unorthodox drum patterns.
They start with a slow, guttural build up before launching into 'In The Blood' from their recently released EP. Richard Pike travels with erratic precision around his guitar, creating some piercing squeals, while Dave Miller delivers dark electronic sounds, while rocking out on the synthesizer like it's an homage to Tom Cruise's crazy time on Oprah.
Miller is the height of innovation on the synth; there's epic, movie-led keys, eighties apocalypto effects, and manipulation of stereo sounds through the PA to create a feeling of creatures crawling through your brain.
Pike adds inventive touches, with a Battles-like usage of microphones, using them more for jarring effects than lyrical songs. At one point he runs them through a delay, making is sound like we're lost in some confusing foggy dream.
This band obviously has great knowledge of a multitude of different styles and tastes. Any group who can bring a sound as unique as theirs, while combining it with little snippets of familiarity for which we can latch on to, as well as the obvious talent with their instruments...well, their album release date is on my calendar for sure. Add to this, that after they've finished, all I overhear from various members of the audience is sounds of unconditional praise.
White Denim are the latest band to be picked up and lauded by the press off the back of their SXSW spot - they did pick up no less than the 'Best New Band' award at this year's event, and their live performance tonight shows me just why that is.
When White Denim grace the stage, their happy, enthusiastic faces hint at the pleasure to come, before they've even played a note.
They kick off with 'Migration Wind,' a warming Americana style intro on the guitar leads into some fuzzy, well crafted feedback, along with some frantic drumming, while the simple, distinctive bass from Steve Terebecki holds the track together.
I like it when bands place the drummer up front with the rest of them, I think it shows they appreciate that every member is equally deserving of merit, so it's nice to Joshua Block up in the centre. His kit is simple, and he has two crash cymbals, one of them so old and battered that it can in no way be described as a circle. The damp clatter of this cymbal works perfectly well in this bands style however, and adds to the grass roots ethos they project.
White Denim's main vocalist, James Petralli, looks like he is having the time of his life on stage, with a constant smile on his face through every song, and a real enthusiasm that is picked up by the rest of the audience. His grainy vocals are full of life, and his command of the wah pedal is impressive indeed.
The amount of raw rock n roll contained within these three guys is brilliant; every second of their performance sounds like it's something they thought of in the spur of the moment, and it just happened to be pure genius.
'Let's Talk About It' is the most well known track by the band, and the one that gets the biggest reaction from the audience, but it's too hard to pick a favourite from this set, every song pulsating with exuberant, vibrant energy.
White Denim hold a great deal of accessibility, with their songs uncompromising in their artistic merit, and holding bags of charm. I'm sure their 'Best New Band' award won't be the last they pick up.
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