Folk Implosion / Mia Doi Todd / Alaska!
Tivoli, Utrecht
03/05/03
It had been four years since Lou Barlow released a “proper” album. Sure, there have been solo tours, 4-track demos and instrumental CD’s, but the new New Folk Implosion and this comprehensive tour of Europe was to herald Lou Barlow’s return to catchy songs once more.
Opening band Alaska! are 2/3 Folk Implosion and 1/3 smiley LA drummer, with Russ Pollard and Imaad Wasif doing their own thing away from Barlow. On record it works, and the first two songs of their set demonstrated their rock mood, catching the straggling audience off guard.
However, the brief set gradually went off kilter as they fell into jam mode, slowly transforming into a reborn Led Zeppelin. That alone is not something to be upset about, but it was more of a sacrifice. In total, only around five songs were completed after 30 minutes, one of those being a cover. It can be fun to see a band rocking out and flailing around, but on the night Alaska! didn’t wield the subtle edge that makes their efforts on record so interesting.
On the other hand, Mia Doi Todd is the queen of subtle. Attempting to silence the audience with the power of her voice alone, her battle plan was wounded by the defences of the people at the bar.
As someone who appreciates music, I cannot sit here and say this woman is bad or has no talent. It turns out she has a very unique and powerful voice and she lets that take the focus with just minimal acoustic guitar as backing. The main problem here is boredom. The lyrics veered from simple Dawson’s Creek fare to overly serious Lilith Fair fodder. Overall the performance lacked the necessary intensity and captivation.
Finally, it was time for the Folk Implosion to slay, conquer and get off the stage as soon as possible before the Gorillaz DJ team arrived for the club section. With Barlow back on bass duty, occasionally stalking the stage like a less demonic Gene Simmons (minus the platforms obviously), the band were tight and primarily to the point.
The set clearly favoured the new CD, which is no surprise when it also involves a new band. The trademark melancholic voice was back in action making the girls swoon. Older songs were being mainly reworked but could be found popping their heads in every so often.
It wasn’t until the encore that the groove slowed and the band retreated to the acoustic guitars to end the night. Of course, this is when Barlow is at his most fragile yet also strongest, stripping songs to the point of nudity with no noise to hide behind.
Then it was over. Time to run before the “boom boom boom” began as Barlow put it.
Steven McCarron
:: back to top ::