Sunset Rubdown @ the Middle East, 9.15.08

This past month my brother and I went to the Tate Modern museum in foggy London town to finish a photo project we had been working on for the entire summer. Photography is prohibited in the Tate and they have taken every precaution to enforce this rule- this means posting volunteers in every room, in addition to having the entire floor space covered by cctv. Anyways, while we were there we overheard a conversation two British children were having. One of the children asked the other, “which painting is the best?” to which the other replied “there is no best, it is your opinion.” The first child smiled and proclaimed “great, I am awesome at opinions!” Wise words indeed.

On Sept.15th a group of musicians from Brooklyn called “Bear Hands” opened up a show downstairs at the MIddle East. They were supporting the Canadian group Sunset Rubdown. Bear Hands took the stage at 9:36 pm and played what seemed like nine songs. Perhaps it was more or maybe less. I did not keep track. They finished their set ten minutes ago and upon searching for a description for their set I am left wanting; it was that kind of set if that gives any indication of anything. In a word they were forgettable.

At 10:44 pm Sunset Rubdown took the stage and played sixteen songs spanning from the Snake’s Got a Leg LP to the Shut Up I’m Dreaming EP to a Swan Lake cover to their latest release, Random Spirit Lover. To those unfamiliar with their music, Sunset Rubdown play an ornate form of indie rock, similar to the Decemberists but wholly less self-aware, and far more powerful. Their sound is orchestral in the sense that their lyrics are woven into the play of instruments, as though the lead singer’s stanzas embellish, as opposed to dominate, the experience the songs. Talk of leopards and dignitaries inhabit their imaginary world, and standing before them play live if a rare treat for anyone willing to suspend the desire for formulaic coherence in exchange for a guided meditation in the sonic realm. Before this write up gets too far ahead of itself, it should be stated in basic language that the show was nearly sold out and by the encore I was drawing parallels between them and the British group Muse, not in terms of audio similarity or lyrics or anything like that, but just in terms of a sensitivity to the experience of music; both groups seem to be throughly invested in mesmerizing both themselves and the audience. There is something almost frenzied about the manner in which Spencer Krug directs the movement of each song, it is as though he is vainly speaking to your other you, the one that didn’t come to the show, the one that doesn’t go to shows because it is busy doing the things it needs to do; in a sense he seems to be talking in code decipherable only in terms of emotions.

What has been said in this write up about the show clearly conveys my appreciation of Sunset Rubdown and I honestly believe you should like them too, but again, it is only an opinion.

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