Placebo Overdose
Saw two stupendous shows at Winnipeg's own Royal Albert Arms this month.

Thursday the first of November brought Electro Quarterstaff.  Electro Quarterstaff, in turn, came three guitars strong (and one bass...er...wide?) and delivered some wicked guitarmonies to the Albert.  The Albert--bless it's misguided-but-well-meaning pillar--then wrapped the whole deal up in a nice numbing blanket of beer that grew thicker and warmer as the night drew on.  The name of the opening band escapes me for the moment, but it was a local drum and bass duo ala Death From Above and I think I enjoyed them slightly more than Electro.  They had a similar style, but seemed tighter and more coherent.  Though, that could be because by the time Electro Quarterstaff hit the stage, my blanket of beer was already three or four layers thick and their sound muddied into a very loud and frantic drone. 

This is not to say the show was not enjoyable, the pounding of the double-kicks was so intense, I ended up closing my eyes just to let the rhythm hit my chest.  An odd thing to do at a metal show, sure.  Especially since the last metal-esque show I saw at the Albert was the Fucking Champs and I kicked it in the pit.

Last Monday Caribou came to the Albert.  I was set on going to this show no matter what, but I was delighted to hear that it was going to be at the Albert because the Albert will only kick ass for another month before being released into the wilds of new ownership, renovation and probable sterility and impotency.  I needed to get the most out of the Albert before it loses it's drive. 

Anyways, I was pumped for the show.  Caribou's new album is a delightful throwback to 60s era psychedelia which could have stirred some latent desire to do drugs because I really wanted to smoke up before the show. 

Turns out I didn't need to. 

Like his show last year, frontman Dan Snaith brought with him his entourage (which this time seemed to consist of three indie-rock hobbits, the bassist looking almost identical to Pippin) and a video projector to make sure your senses are properly bombarded on all applicable AV fronts.  But they chose to forgo the cute little animations of crows and cowboys of last year for a more simplistic and effective approach of bright colours and patterns that flashed and swirled in time with the music.  The songs they played were identical to their recorded counterparts.  I guess the DVD that supplied the visuals also supplied some instruments and vocals that were on the album that could not be duplicated with a four-man band. 

But even though Caribou was missing some of the immediacy and imperfections I enjoy about seeing a band live, the show was pure gravy.  Bars of colour flashed to the drums.  They never missed a beat.  People danced.  I couldn't stop staring at the bright shininess of blues, whites and reds.  My mouth must have gone slack because my eyes and ears were too busy trying to keep up with all the stimulus.  Everything was perfect. 

Heh.  I just think it's funny that the last two Albert shows I've been at--and quite possibly the last two shows I'll ever go to--probably made me look like a total stoner when I never touch the stuff.

Thanks, the Albert.  Look what you've done.  Now I'm going to start saying stupid things like "music is my drug" and "bright shininess".  Ah, but they were good times.  I'll be sad to see you go.