leave them all behind 2015 day 1
Envy/Sumac/Mono/Boris
An amazing experience (just not for my ears). The moment Envy started playing I felt the air conditioning kick with a cool breeze engulfing me. Only it felt more like it was the band reaching out to us, their aura expanding to create a space where we were all equal, all synchronized and all one. I was part of the band and they were part of me. Even though it was my first time seeing them (or listening to them, for that matter), they felt familiar and I knew early what to expect from them, like an old friend. At other points they surprised me with sudden mode changes, and I loved them for it. The lyrics, as far as I could understand them were strong, emotional and on point - goosebumps galore. The growling was a stark contrast to the same singer's soft spoken voice and added another layer of complexity to the songs. Now I am one fond memory, one Envy LP and (temporarily) that ongoing whistling sound in my head richer.
Mono was consistent as always in their performance, ace quality but little variation compared to the show in December 2012 (has it really been almost three years..?).
Boris confused the shit out of me. Definitely the most diverse band I have seen in quite a while, covering a wide range of bpm, genres and moods. The intro and outro were EXTREMELY heavy, dark and dronish, but by the third song we were taken into an ambient, blue-toned landscape to help us relax. When the female guitarist-vocalist took over, I was completely entranced by the sound of her voice and guitar in equal parts, the arrangements were insanely intricate and well paced.
So yeah, it was good.
), Meshida (bass) got to ride a segway around the arena (the other members mocked him cause it was a lame dream :lol), Koichan (drums) performed a magic trick with pros and Koga (guitar) played a song in the air. It was a blast!
