Burma Shave
Roger Miller, photo snagged from Flickr.
Since you asked: Mission of Burma were great last night, just like last time around, though the Horseshoe was a bit too narrow a space compared to the more capacious confines of Lee's, their previous Toronto stop. (Lee's is an unpleasant club much of the time, but good for loud and crowded shows.) They played all the "hits," with a few dips into their two new albums since reuniting. I had the fortune to be standing nearby the sound board and get to watch the subtle magicks worked by Bob Weston - or at least, I assume it was Bob Weston - as he layered in the tape loops and also really actively mixed the live sound. (Taking over the role played by Martin Swope in the original, 1970s edition of the band.) His contributions are so subtle, but crucial, and there was something almost meditative in the way he executed them. I think much of the audience never even knew he was there, and am tempted to suggest that the "invisible member" accounts for part of the special charge of Burma's performances, that there is a dynamic field that striates the room, whose poles are obscure to the listeners. There needs to be a trick to art, a surplus quality that one does not quite understand. And in Burma's case, the transparency and accessibility of the trio on stage almost demands this balance, so that the music can become something larger than they are. That said, they're a very charming trio - they really make it seem sensible that rock now be the province of older men: Let them have it. They're better at it. It belongs to them. What is the point of young people re-enacting these gestures? Find something that is yours the way this sound is theirs. That's how you'll escape your certain fate.
Now, I don't necessarily believe those propositions, but last night they all seemed like straight-up common sense. Mind you, this is the reverse of what one often feels when seeing bands who have been slogging for 20, 30 years straight and seem haggard and worn with it. MoB might be the world's best argument for taking long naps. (Although I wasn't sure whether to be happy or concerned that Roger Miller was playing without his prominent ear-protection gear.) Also fantastic was seeing Jonny Dovercourt of Republic of Safety fan-boy out during their opening set. It's great when legends are preceded by disciples (or apostates, I suppose).
| Posted by zoilus on Thursday, July 27 at 7:10 PM | Linking Posts | Comments (3)
COMMENTS
Sensible indeed -- I had a similar reaction when I saw Wire at Lee's Palace in 2002; Bruce Gilbert may now look like a wizened Foucault, but his guitar still sounds like a buzzsaw.
Posted by Paul M on July 29, 2006 1:03 PM
Much appreciated, Carl. I really enjoyed your take on MoB's peculiar electricity.
With any luck, they'll come down here again sooner or later, and I can do more than experience the show vicariously...
Posted by Jamie on July 28, 2006 11:08 AM
thanks for keeping me on my toes. i had fun looking up the word "striate."
Posted by barclay on July 28, 2006 8:46 AM