We launch into The Universal with enormous momentum. Their sound roll
ing smooth and deep, this "outer space band" is splendidly riveting as usual. The Universal uses time with a ferocious, mathematic intention to rival Rodan. Bright pinging tones and crunching bass reverberate the room. With such brilliant liveliness, no wonder they consider themselves so cosmic in nature.
They are a phenomenal force you might find surprising and certainly astonishing. You can see them next on Wednesday, September 3 at the Visual Arts Collective at 9pm. For a meager $5 cover, don’t you dare miss The Universal again. Their energy and musicality are out if this world. You may think I’m kidding, but why wonder? Go find out yourself.
Next, Le Fleur in such poised formation grace us with their presence. In visibly contained energy
, their strong magnetic pull beckons us nearer and nearer. Once we trust out ears and eyes enough to believe that this breathtaking elegance is true (not just too good to be so), the juicy, lush dynamism accumulates into a shockwave electric and magnificent. Audience attention ensured, the grandly postured intelligentsia-powered-rock Le Fleur burst. Building intensity now sparks in glorious fury. Now unruly tigers without mercy, their claws pierce us as the victims of their smart poetry. Their letters burning from rich charismatic fuels of pumping chords and electronica, impassioned beats and surging melodies that burn imprints in our souls forever. We are theirs (You can also see Le Fleur at the VAC on September 3).
Crowd energy simmers. Cut to a wild cheer thrown quick and swallowed short, followed by the sure sound of a community listening.
Cue... Built to Spill.
The clusters of fans close in frenetically, packing tight on the Knitting Factory floor to allow more and more in. We are together all ears and eyes
on deck in full focus on Perfect from Now On as Boise’s beloved success story perform the 1997 album in full. It’s hearty, throbbing and special. A Boise united here for independent music. For art beautiful and simply elegant. Rooted in things familiar aimed toward riotous depths and enormous heights. For sweet local things with global potential. Built to Spill is all that. And so are here for them now at yet another send-off for old friends preparing for a European tour. It is hope represented for every Boise artist, but most especially those independent, starving and hardworking.
In the thick of the album now, we are enthralled and cannot get enough. Anyone who sees performances regularly learns to sense an audience who is listening. This one is captivated, absorbing every note. Like hearing the sunrise bringing a new dawn, we listening through immersion, amongst dew drops on fresh blossoms opening in finch songs to each new golden ray multiplying in color and warmth. This is how to hear the sun rise and how we now dive into each bang-crash of drums and humming love-chords sweet and piercing. These sounds and words are from here, from the city where we live. All Boise (represented by a swarming Knitting Factory) is hanging on this Built to Spill. And so we cheer.
This is noise worth local pride. Of course we demand Built to Spill continue once Perfect from Now On concludes, and we are generously appeased with You Were Right from Keep It Like a Secret in return. How satisfying.
