Spring Break
'Not' falls to Roxy
by Andrea Fineman
Managing Editor
Arts | 10/21/08
Posted online at 12:52 AM EST on 10/21/08
Maybe we should stop reviewing shows at the Roxy. After all, it's hard to honestly assess a band's performance when the role the club plays in the concertgoer's experience always takes center stage.
Last week, German rock band The Notwist fell victim, like many bands I've seen there, to the Roxy's deplorable sound system. While listening to the opener's instrumental songs from the far end of the room, it seemed that this concert was going to work out, but no-upon reaching the dance floor, which lies directly in front of the stage, I found that the singer's vocals were just as muffled by the thunderous bass as any band I've seen at the Roxy.
This time, it was more disappointing than usual. I've been a fan of The Notwist for a number of years. Their last album before the most recent was released in 2002; six years passed before the release of that album and The Devil, You + Me, on the strength of which the band is currently touring. So, to have the force of their Boston-area concert blunted by the Roxy's sorry speakers was more than a little irritating.
All of this is not to mention the twinkling party lights above the stage which shone on the audience throughout the band's set. Nothing is worse than trying to get a good look at a band you've paid to see and having the venue's purple and blue lights shine in your eyes.
Thus, all I can really say about the concert is that, despite the group's age (they formed in 1989-three years before Miley Cyrus was even born), they seemed to be fully engaged in the performance. While there was little verbal communication between the audience and the band-lead singer Markus Acher took the stage saying "We are The Notwist; this is our first song," and that was it-the band put in a solid performance that was quite well-received by the crowd.
The electronic influences that have crept into the band's music in recent years were evident-one instrument at the front of the stage appeared to be a keyboard controlled by two Wii-motes. A long, long jam-like piece toward the end of the set involved a looped recording of the singer's voice crooning the words "different cars and trains" (the title of a 2003 EP). It was more than your usual self-indulgent jam session, however. Despite the considerable repetition, after 10 minutes of electronic manipulation of the phrase, the audience was still focused. Otherwise, the band mostly played songs off the new album, with the exception of the encore, which included the outstanding "One with the Freaks" off their 2002 album, Neon Golden. I'm sure many in the crowd were disappointed that the band didn't delve deeper into that album Sunday night.
Last week, German rock band The Notwist fell victim, like many bands I've seen there, to the Roxy's deplorable sound system. While listening to the opener's instrumental songs from the far end of the room, it seemed that this concert was going to work out, but no-upon reaching the dance floor, which lies directly in front of the stage, I found that the singer's vocals were just as muffled by the thunderous bass as any band I've seen at the Roxy.
This time, it was more disappointing than usual. I've been a fan of The Notwist for a number of years. Their last album before the most recent was released in 2002; six years passed before the release of that album and The Devil, You + Me, on the strength of which the band is currently touring. So, to have the force of their Boston-area concert blunted by the Roxy's sorry speakers was more than a little irritating.
All of this is not to mention the twinkling party lights above the stage which shone on the audience throughout the band's set. Nothing is worse than trying to get a good look at a band you've paid to see and having the venue's purple and blue lights shine in your eyes.
Thus, all I can really say about the concert is that, despite the group's age (they formed in 1989-three years before Miley Cyrus was even born), they seemed to be fully engaged in the performance. While there was little verbal communication between the audience and the band-lead singer Markus Acher took the stage saying "We are The Notwist; this is our first song," and that was it-the band put in a solid performance that was quite well-received by the crowd.
The electronic influences that have crept into the band's music in recent years were evident-one instrument at the front of the stage appeared to be a keyboard controlled by two Wii-motes. A long, long jam-like piece toward the end of the set involved a looped recording of the singer's voice crooning the words "different cars and trains" (the title of a 2003 EP). It was more than your usual self-indulgent jam session, however. Despite the considerable repetition, after 10 minutes of electronic manipulation of the phrase, the audience was still focused. Otherwise, the band mostly played songs off the new album, with the exception of the encore, which included the outstanding "One with the Freaks" off their 2002 album, Neon Golden. I'm sure many in the crowd were disappointed that the band didn't delve deeper into that album Sunday night.
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