Quarterlifeparty

Two summers ago we were helping my buddy move and Brent put Secret Machines’ Ten Silver Drops into the CD player, and ever since I have been hooked. I went back and got their debut Now Here is Nowhere, which, although i had heard it before, finally clicked with me and later that summer, through torrential rain storms and rainbows, we were able to catch them play Baltimore’s Artscape . So it was with much anticipation for not only the release of the self-titled 3rd album, but also to see how they would sound live with the replacement of original guitarist Benjamin Curtis by Phil Karnats. After their show last night at the 9:30 Club, I am here to tell you they haven’t missed a (chest pummeling) beat.

We arrived in the middle of opener TK & the Visions set and while i thought their songs on myspace weren’t bad, the sound at the 9:30 club wasn’t doing them any favors. Maybe it was because I was so close that the main speakers were behind me, but the fullness I heard from them on their studio recordings just didn’t come across on stage. I will tell you one thing, they have the look down: headbands, rolled up short sleeves, etc.

Secret Machines took the stage with about a less than 3/4′s full crowd looking on (which really surprised me) and starting playing songs from the new album. Actually their stage setup was done in such a way that it actually looked like the new album cover. There were large aluminum beams creating a half-box frame behind and around them, and they had connected strips of white cloth from behind them to above them and to the sides of them in a way that created really cool geometric shapes not unlike the spirograph’s you made when you were a kid; only these were three dimensional and changed colors throughout the show. It really added to the moodiness and drama of the new songs.

The majority of the set was focused on the new songs, which when i first heard the album i wasn’t as much of a fan as their previous songs, but after repeated listens and especially after hearing them live I finally “get it”. Majority of them seem a lot less “catchy” than their previous material but also much more experimental, which when played live enables them to really come alive in a way that doesn’t come across nearly as much on the recording. It’s almost like the opposite of Pink Floyd: Syd Barrett leaves and they go from experimental jams to reigned in prog-pop songs, Benjamin Curtis leaves and they go from prog-pop to more experimental jams. Not to say one is better than the other, or that the new album doesn’t have it’s share of catchy riffs, but seeing the new songs live really enabled their full potential to be heard.

One of the great things about seeing a live show is when you can actually feel the music. Let me assure you that the Secret Machines didn’t lack in that category. They had their bass revved up so loud that, at times, i think my brain and heart were bring rattling around like a kid shakes Christmas presents. It was as if they hit the perfect note that just shook the whole place, turned up the volume, and then hit the strings even harder. My hair might have even been moving.

Never was this more prevalent than in their new albums’ two epic songs “The Walls Are Starting to Crack” and “The Fire is Waiting”, the later of which they closed the first set with. These songs, while still holding onto their original melody structure, took on a life of their own: going through various ups, downs, freak-outs, raging guitars solos, and pummeling drums (their drummer not only has the same hair as Andre the Giant but he also hits the drums with the same amount of force). I’m not even sure how long they played these two songs, it could have been a half hour each for all I know, because about a quarter of the way through each one I found myself almost in a trance.

After finishing “The Fire is Waiting” the band came back on stage for an encore (obviously). The audience was pretty excited to hear some familiar songs, probably because the new album just came out this week and there are only so many 10 minute songs you can handle before you just wanna jump around. The band obliged by playing blazing renditions of “Lightening Blue Eyes” and “Alone Jealous and Stoned” (there may have been one more, but i can’t recall…maybe it was all the brain shaking). The crowd finally was able to release all their energy and jump around while the band looked like they were generally having fun with the oldies but goodies without having to worry about a 4 minute jam.

Overall, although starting off a bit slow, the band played a great set filled with a good mix of new songs and old gems. When I went to bed i think I had a dream I was standing next to a huge cannon being fired repeatedly, because when i woke up my ears were still ringing, which to me is the ultimate sign of a successful show.

The Secret Machines – Atomic Heels (MP3)

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