Built to Spill with guests Attack In Black

The Commodore Ballroom

Oct 2, 2007

 

After nearly fifteen years of making music, and six albums under their belt, Boise based rockers Built to Spill hit the west coast Tuesday night, to play Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom.

 

 Up and Coming supporting guests, Attack in Black, kicked off the night, with a simple, stripped down set. The four modest boys from Welland, Ontario, entertained audiences playing tracks off their first full length record “Marriage”, like “Chimes and Church Bells” and “Come What May”. The catchy, first single “Young Leaves” was well received, with audiences bobbing their heads along to the beat. The band was very minimal on the in-between banter, saying next to nothing to the audience, except for a few “thanks”. Bassist Ian Kehoe often played with his back to the crowds, and yet the band still pulled off a great show.  Their approach to performing is simply about the music, no tricks, flashing lights, fancy backdrops, synchronized jumps, nothing to take away from the music. The band finished their set with the title track from the album “Marriage”.

 

Built to Spill took the stage around 10:30pm and for an hour and 40 minutes, the band stood almost motionless onstage blazing through track after track. The crowds didn’t seem to mind, dancing to tracks like “Going against Your Mind” off of 2006’s “You in reverse”.

 

Singer-songwriter, Doug Martsch entertained fans with intricate guitar parts and solos, along with long instrumental parts riddled throughout the set. While, the instrumental parts and guitar work was definitely impressive, it became repetitive, and the audience was showing signs of boredom. However, the band, brought back the attention ( or tired to) with a variety of tracks from previous albums such as “Nowhere, nothing Fuckup”, “the Source”, “Fly around my Pretty Little Miss” and a cover of Brian Eno’s “Third Uncle”.

 

The backdrop provided more visual attention and interest than the five, energy lacking performers onstage. A simple white projection screen flashed random images ranging from landscapes, to abstract art, to people. One of the few times Martsch interacted with the audience, he reveled all the artwork was drawn by their “buddy Mike Scheer”.

 

Before saying goodnight, and launching into there encore, the Built to Spill  took the opportunity to say, “Down with Right Wing Corporate Douches”,  before Martsch simply stated “ Thanks for coming to see us, see you next time” and with a quick wave they exited the stage.

 

For both bands the focus wasn’t on making a visual spectacle, or interacting with the audience for that matter. The came to the commodore to play for audiences and hopefully let the music speak for itself.  The over the top, banter filled, flashy high energy shows audiences have become accustomed to, is not what either bands are about. Attack in black continue to tour across Canada with Ladyhawk, until late November, while, veterans, Built to Spill finish up their tour with three consecutive shows in Seattle.