The Black Angels are an incredible force of psychedelic power, recognized across the country as a great live show. Coming to Lawrence for the second time this year, the band had a sold-out crowd packing the Bottleneck well before they took the stage. Two openers, Spendrift and Dead Meadow gradually warmed up a guarded crowd that reserved most of its passion for the headliner.
By 8 p.m. a crowd was growing down the block from the entrance to the Bottleneck, with black-clad hardcore fans, plaid-shirt indie kids and a few witless poseurs determined to get tickets before the show sold out. Sadly these poor souls had to deal with a rude, snooty doorman who did not set a good mood for the start of the night.
That lame door guy's attitude might have triggered the lack of appreciation for the first opener, Spendrift, but by the time Dead Meadow was set up, the crowd was a little more upbeat in mood. The L.A. trio was a suitable lead to The Black Angels, rocking out long, dynamic psychedelic numbers that carried the crowd away into their own minds. The guys had a little technical difficulty about half way through their set, which the crowd was not entirely patient with.
When The Black Angels came on stage the crowd went wild, roaring with excitement. The five musicians from Austin, Texas have impressed the Kansas crowd with their instrumental skills, switching from drums to keys, from vocals to guitar, ect. The band's repertoire of songs is so satisfying that fans and newbies alike are thrilled by the live performances.
A Black Angels enthusiast could appreciate the playlist Saturday night, which featured old and new songs, big hits and rarely heard tunes. From "Grease," to "Telephone," the band played their darkest and most intense songs as well as the lighter, accessible pieces. All the while an increasingly intense, attention-grabbing light show flashed across the back of the stage and over the band members, holding the entire, packed Bottleneck in rapture throughout the show.
The Black Angels have a penchant for turning their amps up past normal volumes, threatening to deafen audience members caught near the speakers. The band's intense musical styling and the pitch-dark lighting the Bottleneck applies to their performances makes for a wholey chaotic sense of turbulence, despite the nearly-still crowd uniformly facing the stage, bobbing heads or twisting slowly to the band's rhythms. Somewhere in this ruckus, two random individuals found themseves in a confrontational situation that led to a hilarious breaking up of an almost-fight.
"Finishing" their set around 12:30 a.m. the band could not stay off the stage for long, as an enthusiastic crowd cheered, clapped and stomped for an encore that was more than anyone could have expected. The Black Angels showed Lawrence some love to match the sold out crowd's energy, playing about five songs, truly finishing their show at 1 a.m.
Lawrence has proven that it can appreciate a powerful and slightly under-rated band, it would not be surprising if The Black Angels moved on to a bigger venue for their next stop in town. If you were not aware of this amazing band before, or just could not get a ticket to one of their last two shows in town, keep your eye out for the next time The Black Angels come by.
Now for Previews:
This Thursday, The Brody Buster Band will be rocking The Bottleneck with Trampled Under Foot. Any fans of the blues and southern rock need to check out this show!
Friday the 21st, The Floozies will open for Vibesquad at The Granada, throwing down electronic dance tunes that take every show to a higher level of partying!
That same night, Sonic Sutra begins its two-night rock-a-thon at the Jazzhaus. Any fans of funky jam bands need to check out this show!
Next Thursday, the 27th, L5 will play with Lantern and Living Ghost at The Replay Lounge. Folk rock mixed with psychedelic noise never sounded better!
Then Friday the 28th, March Fourth Marching Band will open for Quixotic at Liberty Hall. These are two of the most impressive live shows to behold. March Fourth Marching Band's amazing dancers, stilt-walkers and massive marching band will make for a perfect opening act and a tough act to follow, with Quixotic's astounding fire-spinners and acrobats headlining on the biggest stage in town.
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