If you enjoy transportative music and a fabulous light show, consider catching up with Chelsea Wolfe and her three-piece band. They’re a tight unit – drums, bass, electric and acoustic guitars, keys, synths – elevating Wolfe’s atmospheric songs. The hour-twenty set passed in no time at all – suddenly, it was encore time – with the almost ritualistic quieter tunes complemented by eruptions of guitar and pummelled drum kit. I knew only Wolfe’s Abyss album and recognised two* of its highlight tracks, but didn’t feel the poorer for my ignorance. Wolfe also managed the rare feat of quieting the bar chatter – an attentive (goth-prominent) crowd, with only a couple of exceptions. Whether cruising or rocking, the one constant was Wolfe’s voice, as much instrument as the electric guitar used for effect not solos. And yes, a round of applause to the lighting engineer who enhanced the mood and theatricality of the concert. Off now to look at some albums and lyric sheets.
Electronic music pioneer Gary Numan is coming to Australia for only the second time in his 30-year career. Yep, we’re excited 🙂 Readers of a certain vintage or particularly astute young’uns might know him from hits Cars and Are Friends Electric?. Numan’s enjoyed a resurgence of interest in his catalogue in recent years, thanks in part to some dark, heavy albums.
I had the good fortune to talk with Numan about his return to popularity, but here’s a choice quote about the appeal of electronic music that didn’t make the cut:
“I’m a massive fan of guitars and drums and use them on my albums, but with technology it’s about the very sound itself. I can spend days and days just making the sound. It’s another level of music most people don’t go into. Sound creation is the most rewarding and most exciting thing I do. It’s a great sense of pride for me … to make an album with 40-50 sounds that no one’s ever heard before is very exciting. I could listen to sound effects tapes all day. I think if I wasn’t making music I could work as a sound effects engineeer.”
Numan plays Brisbane’s gorgeous Tivoli on March 2.
