11.23.08

It’s not for the cock, it’s for the science

Posted in G-Town, Gigs at 9:44 pm by Gavin Williams

TV on The Radio @ Shepherds Bush Empire 19/11/2008

 

TV on The Radio’s most recent long player, “Dear Science”, seems to have disappointed a number of fans equally as much as it has been, or will be, featured in end of year best of lists, yet, judging by the hysteria of an excited buzz mixed with furiously busy touts, tonight the stage is really set for them to prove their worth.

Entering the grandiose setting of the Empire, TVOTR are instantly captivating and charismatic. The two guitarists, Dave Sitek and Kyp Malone, sit nonchalantly sprawled on the stage floor, almost as if jamming in their bedroom. Frontman, Tunde Adebimpe, meanwhile, is a bundle of energy from the off. Dressed in a tight fitting shirt and wearing a pair of think rimmed glasses, he is a striking image of cool as he shuffles excitedly around the stage and rips into his vocal parts enthusiastically.

What’s instantly apparent is that this band are, despite- or maybe because of- their obvious creativity, ridiculously tight. With the majority of the songs that they play from “Dear Science”, the band replace string and brass instruments with guitar and keyboard parts. Surprisingly, this works to great effect- creating a pleasing alternative to the recorded versions, sounding raw and off the cuff. Singer/guitarist Malone, often spits out his rap like vocals whilst his hands spider around the guitar neck, giving him the appearance of a slightly deranged, furiously intelligent musical wizard.

Watching TV on The Radio tonight, separating them from their surroundings and the audience, their performance is wild yet controlled- filled with buckets of passion yet seemingly carefully calculated. It is exciting to watch. Once you take the crowd into the equation, though, it suddenly becomes a little less thrilling. At best, the majority of the audience look lifeless and bored. It is almost like looking at two totally separate gigs, the forceful, powerful performance of the Brooklyn band does not match up with the stiff, seemingly uninterested crowd. To their credit, TVOTR refuse to become despondent or withdrawn and, in actual fact, throw themselves in to the gig with even more ferociousness.   

More recent songs, such as “Golden Age” and “Dancing Choose”, persist with an almost aggressive groove while songs from “Return To Cookie Mountain”, i.e “Wolf Like Me”, quake the venue with an earnest and urgent velocity. It is this mix that really displays this band as a cut above the majority- imaginative and experimental  to the end.

The set tonight spans all three albums from the band, delicately tightroping between rock and fuck, carefully avoiding clichés and always remaining interesting. TV on The Radio might just be the modern thinking person’s rock band of choice and, despite the fact that half the audience were clearly recommended to come and see this hip band by the Guardian, they pull off an exciting, captivating and imaginative set of songs with no regards of audience reaction.

Crying

http://www.myspace.com/tvotr

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