Quarterlifeparty

Our good friend Dylan is sending us dispatches from his musical exploits during his time in London.  Consider us jealous.

Shearwater Get Their 15 Minutes
Shearwater provided the opening set for an Andy Warhol film exhibition (more after the jump) at the stately Barbican Theatre, a setting more accustomed to classical symphonies than indie rock bands. Perhaps that is why Shearwater were such a perfect fit. The quintet provided an ensemble-like show with its multi-instrumentalist members playing combinations of electric guitars, keyboards, a family of basses (electric, distorted electric, stand up bass both plucked and bowed), full drum kit, stand alone snare, dueling glockenspiels, clarinet, trumpet and clever noises derived from feedback.

Even more, the acoustics of the vertical hall supported Jonathan Meiburg’s voice – one part dramatic Morrissey baritone and one part gothic-Orbison falsetto – to soaring heights. Not to mention they have a drummer named Thor. Meiburg (formerly of Okkervil River) warmed the audience by tipping his cap to the oddness of the event (“we feel like we’re singing into the void”), and soon won over the crowd that was there mostly for Warhol. The set was short and driven, culminating in a devastating rendition of “Rooks” to round it out.

The night continued with a screening of “13 Most Beautiful: Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests”. This eerie set of black and while vignettes was culled from nearly 500 “screen tests” that Warhol filmed at his infamous Silver Factory of his entourage and many visitors in the mid-60’s. The Andy Warhol Museum commissioned Dean and Britta (that’s Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips formerly of Luna) to score the films – with ample musical reference to The Velvet Underground, of course. The result was trippy and intensive. To quote the artist: “My idea of a good picture is one that’s in focus and of a famous person.” During this night, even focus was optional.

Tags: , andy warhol , english channel , shearwater