Walking in late, my ears are rattled immediately. Justin Broadrick’s Jesu are midway through their set, and as their atmospheric on-record bombast is translated from studio to stage it grows, bigger and bigger, harder and harder. From the floor looking up, the stacks either side of three men rocking, slowing, on heels in time with sludgy riffs and pounded skins, look like colossal towers reaching up to the heavens; that they spit savage modern metal given an industrial makeover is merely a bonus in the experience, as washes of sonic bliss flow from amplifiers via electrified air to a back wall, against which the fearful are pressed, ears partially covered. When volume’s a recognised weapon in the war on musical mundanity, Broadrick will be marshalling troops left right and centre. I expect his medals are in the post now, then.
Japanese instrumental act Mono are renowned for their emotionally draining live displays – unlike their tourmates here, it’s these outings that last in the memory longer than their recordings (Jesu, though brilliant on record, are notoriously so-so in the flesh, so tonight is a pleasant turn up for the books). But this evening the connections fall short of previous encounters; there’s grandeur and class, skilful execution and compositional nous, but weirdly the four-piece seem rather more distant than usual. ‘Yearning’ is their trump card, still, but it feels oddly devoid of soul tonight, its 15-minute length peaking in all the right places but not engaging all and sundry as it has when aired in smaller surroundings. And perhaps this is the issue tonight: in the comparatively cavernous Scala, Mono’s enveloping sounds are provided with too much space; previously, at shows in the Underworld and at the Water Rats, they’ve stunned onlookers into shell-shocked silence, but here they’re just a pleasant distraction during an evening’s drink or two.
Assessed comparatively, though, Mono remain one of the finest acts of their kind. Problem is that their kind are running out of ideas, fast, and what once gripped the heart like a vice now only half-fills souls well versed in such prefixed rock music.
Photo: Lucy Johnston
Glasgow and Mono
I disagree. Being a big post rock fan and having heard my fair share, there is something about Mono that sets them apart from the well defined formula, feeling alot more emotionally raw rather than compositionally formulaic.
They were utterly goregous in Glasgow, I was grinning ear to ear during the set and the whole way home :)
Rar,
"Mono remain one of the finest acts of their kind. Problem is that their kind are running out of ideas, fast, and what once gripped the heart like a vice now only half-fills souls well versed in such prefixed rock music"
Can't say I agree with that at all. They are consistently brilliant.
I agree with Pseudovoid, at Glasgow they filled the room with so much noise, fantastic.
Leeds
The were totally awesome in Leeds.
Jesu/Mono Pictures
I agree about mono, post rock can't be only starting a song quiet quiet going up up to loud and then going back to quiet.
That is what mono do for every tune and after 5 or 6 it make you think they lack some ideas
Jesu was interesting, as long as someone explains to me what is the 7th chord on a guitar for?
pictures of both band at La Scala concert are here:
http://thelineofbestfit.com/2007/11/23/mono-jesu-scala-london-200707-photo-review
exclusive pictures and review about live music scene in UK are on liveon35mm
http://liveon35mm.wordpress.com
have a nice weekend
Valerio
.
Cant say i agree. They where amazing in Glasgow. Jesu on the other hand where blodey terrible in Glasgow. Putting aside the fact they had a few technical difficulties they didnt really do much. Not impressed.
mono at scala
Jesu were awful. Shocking to see the reviewer give more to them than to mono. Jesu were playing boring loops that lasted 7 pr 8 mins at a time, and most of the sound was coming from the laptop that accomanied them onstage rather than the live instruments. I thought they were awful.
1st time seeing mono. I can imagine that in smaller venues the impact of their sound is greater. I was standing in the middle on the main floor at the start, and the sound was bad there. It was only when I moved to the rear of the place higher up on the stairs that the acoustics seems to help sort out the individual sounds into 1 band sound, and then the gig was much more enjoyable. It was also an interesting experience to witness Mono live and the respect they get from the audience. Complete silence at the start of the tracks. You could even hear a mobile phone ringing at those moments!
From experience:
Probably the best I've seen Jesu (must've been fourth time).
Possibly the worst I've seen Mono (must've been the seventh time).
So, scores reflect that. Thanks.
Mono @Scala
I agree with Westredd, Jesu were awful and dull. Thing about Mono is, I missed them before, and you vould say I was always going to enjoy them as some kind of evening of pilgrimage to a band which have been with me for so long. Nonetheless I though they were great. Tight. Uplifting. Mysterious. Just what I was hoping for.
Mono @Scala (again)
by the way, since when has been acceptable to "shush" people at the beginning of tracks. We all know them. We all know when to be quiet. I thought it was just insulting...
I'm surprised Mike too..
I really enjoyed Mono at the Scala - granted i had my head on the monitor for most of the time so was pretty blown away by the sound but i thought it was far more intense and soulfull then Jesu - who i thought were alright but pretty dull.
I thought Mono were amazing - and it definitely tallied up with the Underworld gig.