Tagged: House of Blues
MUSE: A review of Imagine Dragons at the House of Blues
By Matt Clarkin, Staff Writer
The band Imagine Dragons/ PHOTO VIA hardrockhotel.com
I can’t say I like live-concerts much. The drinks are a fortune, the mosh-pits a pain, and other fans a drag. So by the time I’ve waited five hours in standing-room-only for my new favorite band to reach the stage, my legs and my patience are a little worse for the wear and leave me wondering if it was worth all that. In fact, I had sworn off live-concerts altogether until, that is, Imagine Dragons came to Boston back in February.
To my surprise, opening band Nico Vega is responsible for the trailer song to Bioshock Infinite called “Beast of America” which is such a good song it could pass for a classic rock anthem (and I was convinced it was a classic for some time even after this concert). The rest of their songs too were both catchy and angry and that always strikes a chord with me. Also, female rock vocalists are usually overrated in my book – except for maybe Hayley Williams and Ellie Goulding – but again Nico Vega’s lead vocalist Aya Volkman won me over.
The second was Australian band Atlas Genius. Following Nico Vega’s powerful guitar riffs they didn’t come up too strong owing to the general softness of their melodies. Atlas Genius didn’t blow me away, but I did download their hit song “Trojans.”
At last Imagine Dragons came onstage with fog-machines working on full-blast and a sweet forest lantern-light stage scene behind them. The music was good, but lacked the luster that comes with their studio editing. Don’t get me wrong, the vocals were good, and the prerecorded tech-synth sounds were fine, but none of the live-songs reflected the same “umph” as their studio-edited mp3 counterparts.
I couldn’t shake the impression that lead vocalist Dan Reynolds put more effort into head-banging, finding things to jump on, and exciting the crowd than actually trying to keep beat or hit all his notes. I can’t say I was listening to a band that played their hearts out; rather, I was watching awesome stage effects while some band went through their set self-consciously, awaiting the praise of their audience. I was obliged to cheer because it was Imagine Dragons, not because the renditions of their own songs were very good.
Despite the concert’s disappointment, there were some rewarding moments. Huge thumbs up to Nico Vega, and a smaller thumbs up to Atlas Genius — even though I wasn’t immensely impressed, they delivered a higher quality music product than the main attraction. Thumbs down to Imagine Dragons for making me lose faith in the real quality of the bands whose mp3’s I love. I’m not much of a moralist, but I found a moral for this one — stay home, and stick with your studio-polished mp3’s because bands are not half as dependable as the download.
Weekend round-up
By Lucien Flores, Staff Writer
There’s an abundance of exciting shows to check out this weekend in Boston. If you need a rest from the cold or a break from the school grind, then try to nab last-minute tickets to one of these dates.
Alt-J at Paradise Rock Club – Saturday March 2nd and Sunday March 3rd
I mentioned this concert in my start-of-the-semester concert preview but there’s no harm in rehashing the suggestion. While the freshman British band is playing two dates at the intimate Paradise Music Club, good luck getting tickets as both nights are sold out. Don’t fret if searching through Craigslist searching is not your thing, as the band will back in Boston on September 13 at the much-larger Bank of America Pavilion.
In the midst of their meteoric rise, Alt-J announced a world tour so this will be one of the last times you’ll be able to see them in such a cozy environment.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Brighton Music Hall – Saturday March 2nd
Unknown Mortal Orchestra has a thick psychedelic 1960s sound that will draw comparison to Tame Impala, however, UMO creates a far more compelling product. Listening to their two albums brings listeners back to an era they likely never experienced. “From The Sun” almost sounds like a lost White Album track and “The Opposite of The Afternoon” is haunting with its whispery vocals.
Opposite of The Afternoon:
Tenacious D at House Of Blues – Saturday March 2nd
If comedy rock is your thing than there are few bigger acts than Tenacious D. Going strong since 1994, Jack Black and Kyle Glass will bring their ridiculous tracks to Boston’s House of Blues.
What to do at home this weekend?
Listen to Youth Lagoon’s newest album, Wondrous Bughouse on NPR. He’ll playing the Boston Calling music festival in late May alongside The National, Of Monsters And Men, and others.
Review: Purity Ring at the House of Blues
By Sydney Moyer, Music Editor
@sydneymoyer
Vocalist Megan James of Canadian duo Purity Ring/ PHOTO BY Sydney Moyer
As my friend and I were getting ready to hop the T to see Purity Ring at the House of Blues last Wednesday, my roommate asked me what kind of show we were going to. My friend and I both looked at one another perplexed and emitted this kind of non-committal hem-haw type noise that I’m tempted to make again as I sit here trying to describe this band in an article.
My friend later informed me that Purity Ring, the Canadian duo (my second one this week!), made up of vocalist Megan James and beatmaster Corin Roddick, was classified as “Intelligent Dance Music” (commonly known as IDM, according to Wikipedia, although I think they fudged that “commonly” descriptor there). While that strikes me as a slightly idiotic name for a genre of music, I have to admit that it seems kind of fitting. Purity Ring is like Grimes in that it incorporates elements commonly found in EDM (bass drops, wub-wubs, reverberant drum beats, etc.), but slowed rhythms and haunting high-pitched vocals illustrate its difference from artists in the traditional EDM vein.
At first, the audience seemed to echo my confusion about the band– was it a dance show? Should there be dancing? Should we just quietly sway back and forth and try not to brush elbows too offensively with the neighbors? However, as James and Roddick wound their way through a set largely made up of their debut album, Shrines, it didn’t seem to matter what type of music it was, just that every single person in the House of Blues seemed to react to it in one way or another. There was fist-pumping and some pushing, but there was also arm-swaying and what looked like interpretive dancing.
Purity Ring brought their “dreamy synth-infused whatever-you-want-to-label-it brand of music” to the House of Blues last Wednesday/ PHOTO BY Sydney Moyer
Purity Ring’s dreamy synth-infused whatever-you-want-to-label-it brand of music was met with a crazy set and lighting design made up of what looked like eggs or buoys lit up in different colors and hanging from sticks behind the stage, and the combination made for a highly entertaining, totally danceable show, although James needs to work on her stage presence. She has a phenomenal voice perfectly suited to the band’s sound, but if Purity Ring wants to rise to Grimes or Ellie Goulding status in the next few years, they’re going to need a bit more umph than a bunch of fancy egg lights. Judging from what they’ve accomplished so far though, I’d say that day is not far off.
A euphoric experience: Nero at the House of Blues
By Alexandria Chong, MUSE Staff Writer
Dillon Francis, Alana Watson and Nero all under one roof? I know, m-a-g-i-c-a-l. The only thing that helped me make it through my two hour accounting midterm was that I was going to see that triple threat right afterwards. On a Tuesday night, one would not expect such a massive audience, but the concert was a sold-out success.
Young the Giant sells out House of Blues
By Meghan DeMouth, Daily Free Press Staff Writer
Too polished to be indie rock and not quite streamlined to be pop, Young the Giant combines grandiose song arcs and laid-back melodies to create a light sound reminiscent of road trips in old cars and sun-drenched days at the beach.
A DEADMEAT Party At The House of Blues
By Alexandria Chong, Muse Staff Writer
Let’s just say, it was a freaking awesome dance party just like Steve and Datsik warned me in their pre-interviews. The DEADMEAT Tour is definitely one show not to miss this year. Although biased as I am a huge fan of both artists, I’d say the audience agrees with me when I say that was one of the best shows I’ve been to. It was full of intense fun and immense energy at all points of the show, everything a concert should be. Playing to a sold-out crowd, both headliners gave body-lifting performances to celebrate Steve’s ‘Wonderland’ album and Datsik’s signage to DIM MAK Records.
Flogging Molly flogs House of Blues
By Joseph Difazio, Muse Staff Writer
Celtic punk favorites Flogging Molly came to the House of Blues on Tuesday as part of their Green 17 tour, following opening acts The Devil Makes Three and Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears.
Photos from Matt and Kim HOB show
Photos by Erik Rojas, Muse staff
For those of you who missed out on the Matt and Kim show at the House of Blues back in December, here’s a nifty slideshow of shots taken by COM sophomore Erik Rojas for Muse.
