Dirty Forums - UNKLE: US Tour

soooo...

where to begin. Ok, it was a very good show - definitely entertaining, but I don't know if it was my favorite Unkle performance (which probably wouldve been the NNL Dex n' Fx show @ Club Five in Washington, DC)

I was able to get ahold of Pablo a few days before the gig, but - unfortunately, he wasn't doing the US tour. He also basically told me don't count on meeting up with James. To which, I was like - dude, it's not like I'm going to be an autograph hound or whatever (I mean, I already have something signed... and I mean - what're you going to do with something with a signature on it?)

ANYWAYS
my friend Jill and I met up for a bite to eat and a few drinks before the show. Doors opened at 8 - we got there at like 9-9:30... and had to wait until 10-freaking-30!!!! I wouldn't have minded the wait as much - but honestly, the opener kinda sucked. Like, the music was good - but no stage presence whatsoever AT ALL. And I mean... who wants to hear reeeeeeeaaaaallly chill downtempo music for over an hour before a rock show??????

here's the set list
Intro / Chemistry / Drums of Death / Hold My Hand
Reign / Broken / Burn My Shadow
Lonely Soul / Blackout
Price You Pay / Restless
Mayday
Keys to the Kingdom
Morning Rage
In a State
Rabbit in Your Headlights / Eye for an Eye

oh, and not only was Pablo not there neither was Rich. Luckily though, Joel from South filled in. Which kinda made me hope that they'd play 'inside' or 'glow'... but no luck

the first half of the show was definitely missing something. like - there was some missing energy. My friend Jill was even told me "I wish I could have a lawn chair and a bottle of wine" - luckily - it definitely picked up about halfway through "Price You Pay" and "restless" rocked.

but about the first half of the show -
the transition between "drums of death" and 'hold my hand" sounded awkward as hell, b.c it sounded like they were trying to transition between the two tracks as if it were a dj set... like - it would've worked out much better to have either a brief pause, or even some random synth noize to bridge the tracks

Reign looses a LOT of energy and power with a recorded vocal. It's like you've got this live band playing really hard, but are restrained by Ian's sort of relaxed vocals. I mean, even if James yelled the lyrics out of tune - it'd be much better

the transition between Reign and Broken, however sounded GREAT. It worked much better than that recording from Delta fest

and even though you really could've done 'restless' with a live vocal, it still worked out... actually the only time where it kinda sucked was w/ Reign, and it would've been nice if James & co tweaked the vocals a bit on RIYHL

oooh yea - and they gave out Pablo's WS mix FOR FREE at this gig. Before we got into the show, this chick gave them to us, and said we had to get our photo taken in order to keep the discs (but then inside the venue, stacks and stacks of them were just sitting out) they also were selling a new t-shirt that was just for the US tour (will take pictures of it, the setlist, and Pablo's mix when I get home tonight/tomorrow - I'm still in Chicago at the moment)