Tonight, you take a part of my life :: The Big Pink slay Denver
The Big Pink was absolutely astounding on Monday night at the Larimer. The show was loud, loud, very loud, all smoke machines and strobes. The original duo of the band is fleshed out on this tour by an immensely enjoyable female drummer (badass Akiko Matsuura) and bassist Leopold Ross in a shirt that read, “Safe in Heaven, Dead.” The wiry energy packed into the small muscular frame of singer/guitarist Robbie Furze was magnetic to watch, while Milo Cordell hunched over his keyboards and synthesizer knobs, hands flying back and forth.
The show felt epic and monumental, like it should have happened in some cool era 25 years ago in a tiny London basement club, and then years later people would whisper to each other in hushed tones, “You were THERE for that?”
What The Big Pink is doing with their music feels important and substantial, and the songs from their debut album A Brief History of Love explode and grow to fill the space they rock in. I love the album; I loved the live set even more. They press a fresh blend of sounds from the past over their crisp electronic base. It reminded me of the ragged mix of electric guitar and huge beats of the Handsome Furs show back this summer. Between those two, I found my two favorite shows of the year. Absolutely, absolutely go see the Big Pink when they come through town.
The Clash-meets-New Order vibe of this song was my personal highlight of their set (other than the huge cheers that greeted “Velvet,” and their massive marvelous closer of “Dominoes”). If this doesn’t make you dance and do the hipster flail, your dancer-thing is broken.
Tonight - The Big Pink
(imagine it eighteen times louder, shaking loose the crud of the day)
Name: Heather Browne
YES, YES, TOTALLY! I loved the show so much, one of my top shows, and I loved it even more than the album too! So great. I heard people complaining about the strobe lights and smoke but I thought it was pretty awesome.
Angora Holly Polo — November 25, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
JEALOUSSSS
Mike — November 25, 2009 @ 6:49 pm
In the past few years I have managed to see to some pretty amazing shows. The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, et cetera, but I wasn’t witnessing it happen. It already happened, and they were just re-hashing the past for me, as great as it was to finally see them. This was IT! This felt like my Hacienda or Exploding Plastic Inevitable experience. I felt it when I first heard “Velvet” then I immediately had to devour the rest of the album. At the time, it was available to listen to on the website. There was this rush of blood pulsing in my body the entire album through and through. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Everything I ever loved rolled into this exquisite auralgasm! My knees shook. I believe I fell victim to audio synesthesia, and it was wonderful. I can’t wait to see them again, and again…..
Chrissy — November 25, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
After I read your blog I bought the CD. As great as it is, sure wish I could see them live.
spookycat — November 25, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
I wish that was how they sounded on their records. I saw them in LA and it was really good. But when I listened to the album it didn’t hold that same feeling and sounded very flat to me.
Nick bahula — November 30, 2009 @ 10:20 am
The album does them no justice. The live show kind of blew up, like right in our faces. Smoke, lights, loud obnoxious volume, and great energy.
julio — November 30, 2009 @ 11:36 am
[...] read Heather’s review about the same show we both attended, and I’m happy to see that I wasn’t [...]
the Big Pink on Public Radio — November 30, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
Have they got a big following in America? They’re pretty big here but, in the mainstream, only for one song…
liz — December 3, 2009 @ 5:28 am
Their bassist, Leopold Ross, is hot. Like hot sex hot.
Bea — December 3, 2009 @ 11:51 am
Agree with everyone who says the album doesn’t even begin to cover how amazing this band sounds live! See them live!
They’re going to tour next year with A Place to Bury Strangers. Another band you must experience live to appreciate fully.
m — December 8, 2009 @ 7:50 pm