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Though they tour the U.S. about every two years or so, I’d never seen STEREOLAB live until this show. Backed by a gigantic screen projecting all sorts of weird, psychedelic images throughout their performance, the concert felt more like a ‘60s “happening” in certain ways. The show concentrated on newer material from the just-released Fab Four Suture (songs such as “Widow Weirdo”, “Visionary Road Maps” and “Eye of the Volcano” were highlights), a compilation of limited-edition singles and their B-sides that they have released since their last full-length album, 2004’s Margerine Eclipse (represented by ”... Sudden Stars” [And “Vonal Declosion.” -ed.]).
Singer LAETITIA SADIER is the obvious visual point for the band, cooing softly in her French-accented vocals sung mostly in English and dancing during instrumental sections of each song. After only one song, she asked everyone in the seated venue to stand, and most complied, which I thought to be appropriate despite Stereolab’s reputation as a ‘mellow’ band. Their last few releases have been more energetic and, dare I say, ‘pop’ and accessible compared to the deconstructionist post-rock stylings of their late ‘90s and early ‘00s efforts, so it was good to see them rock out a bit in concert.
My favorite part of the set was when they played older material like “Cybele’s Reverie” and the incredible “The Noise of Carpet” from their masterpiece, 1996’s Emperor Tomato Ketchup. Despite a sound that hasn’t changed so much in the last ten years and the critics who accuse them of making the same album over and over again, Stereolab release so much material that I’ve always thought of them as a forward-looking band. Thus, it was a nice surprise that they dug out these old favorites that surely pleased people like myself who discovered them in college via Emperor Tomato Ketchup.
Given their reputation as a band that makes collector nerds salivate [Or hyperventilate! -ed.] because of the prodigious amount of limited-edition material they release, it almost goes without saying that their merchandise table featured limited-edition tour-only 7” vinyl (I bought one) and 3” CD singles.
Opening duo SAM PREKOP and ARCHER PREWITT (both of THE SEA AND CAKE) played very mellow, bossa-nova-tinged electric guitar with only Prekop singing, which was interesting considering that they are both supporting concurrently-released solo albums. Although I thought that each played guitar well, at times even conjuring up the sounds of GIL GILBERTO, JORGE BEN, and other Brazilian giants, overall they were a bit dull and seemed ill-prepared to play a venue the size of Town Hall. Frankly, they seemed nervous and uncomfortable, with Sam mumbling between songs instead of addressing the audience. Maybe it was because it was the first night of their first tour as a duo.
[Stereolab pictures courtesy of Alyssa Scheinson ; for full setlist, go here]
