Black Mountain endured through Kentucky’s “State of Emergency” snow storm on Friday night to deliver an impressive performance at Louisville’s Headliners Music Hall. The kids should be used to the snow though, being based out of Vancouver, BC & just a few hours from the Canadian Rockies, I’m sure this isn’t the first time they’ve had to weather a storm to get to a show on time. Bon Iver wasn’t so lucky, or rather I guess it was us who were the unlucky ones, because he got stuck in Ohio. A lot of people I spoke with in the crowd were pretty upset as Bon Iver was the one they were mainly coming to see. I admit that even I am more familiar with Bon Iver’s “For Emma, Forever Ago” & was really looking forward to his set, but the show was great nevertheless. The delay forced Phantom Family Halo to go on a little later than anticipated, around 9:45-10.
Phantom Family Halo played a really strong punk-inspired psychedelic indie rock set. I was mentioning to friends before the show the awe-inspiring performance of drummer Tony Bailey (of Dead Child & perhaps more familiarly, Cahoots) from the Louisville is for Lovers showcase. Friday’s performance was on par, if not a little stronger. At one point, he nearly knocked over his entire kit and eventually did actually bang a cymbal right off of its stand. He couldn’t manage to keep hold of the drums sticks though as he dropped them 2-3 times & I doubt it was nerves. Behind them was a video projection screen on which a mostly peaceful video was displayed & while I really enjoyed the video to the music, it ended up being quite distracting. The biggest distraction was the presence of captions, which pulled the audiences attention away from the performance. All in all, the set was strong & I continue to highly encourage my friends to jump on the Phantom Family Halo bandwagon. I was disappointed to hear so many people from Louisville asking who they were…I can only hope as strong an impression was made on them as it was on me for the first time seeing them.
Next up was Black Mountain. Black Mountain could have been the soundtrack to Dazed & Confused…a quintessential 70s psychedelic rock band, whose influences by Sabbath, Zeppelin, Hendrix are not hidden, but wasn’t shoved down your throat either as many similar bands do. Everything about this band & crowd that follows them screams stoner band. I say that without meaning it to be associated with any negative (or positive) connotations that it might carry…only for what it is. Beyond the music, it was evident from the stage smoke, the hippie dancing and the distinct smell of the ingredient itself diffusing through the crowd.
Nevertheless, front-woman Amber Webber gave us a lesson in vocals while Stephen McBean (of Pink Mountaintops) taught us how classic rockers rock. Never was that more true than during Evil Ways…far & away my favorite of the night. Very funky & the crowd absolutely loved it as they danced their hearts out in hippie dance fashion. During the song, one of the strings had come loose, so Stephen just ripped it off…something about how he did that was just hardcore…the crowd loved it. Seeing a band have such a complete kick-back to the 70s, but to be able to do it in a while that is distinctly their own at the same time is rare. There aren’t many psych rock bands in the world as convincing or powerful as Black Mountain.
The first set closed with Bright Lights which was the epitome of a stoner rock song. I honestly hate using the tagline for them, only its so fitting. I enjoyed the mechanics of this song though, because there were four distinct parts. Part 1 bored me to tears as it was more or less a repetitive chant of “Bright Lights”. Part 2 was what the kids came to see…a pure jam. Part 3 was an incredibly awkward interlude, leading up to the final portion of the song which essentially rocked my face off.
Setlist:
Stormy
Angels
Queens
Wucan
Tyrants
Druganaut
Stay Free
Evil Ways
Bright Lights
Phantom Family Halo – Black River
Black Mountain – Stay Free
Black Mountain – Angels
Black Mountain – Tyrants (Video from Louisville Headliners Music Hall)
For loads more pictures,
Phantom Family Halo
Black Mountain
Backseat Sandbar 
Hi,
Were it not for music, we might in these days say, the Beautiful is dead.
By: Share original reggae on March 9, 2008
at 12:24 am
Great pictures. Black Mountain played at least one more song after Bright Lights, a request from the audience, probably off their first album, which I’m not familiar with. Too bad so few people made it out, the roads weren’t that bad if you just drove really slow.
I will not be jumping on the Phantom Family Halo bandwagon. The vocals are the deal breaker.
By: drew on March 10, 2008
at 9:41 am