Broadcast with Gravenhurst and the Like Young
(Abbey 11/4/05)
The Like Young are a Chicago male/female duo that we have seen a couple times now opening up for different bands. They have a definite youthful raw energy to them with Joe Ziemba singing the majority of the vocals in style that remeinds me a bit of Ian MacKaye of Fugazi. I am not sure what their albums are like but on stage they lack enough consistent melody or catchiness for my opinion. I think that perhaps I am just the type of person that prefers girl/boy harmonies though and I would like to have the benefit of hearing Amanda sing with Joe a little more often. I often feel like, to their credit, they do rock out, but I was wanting of more melodic detail. I think partly the limitation comes from the fact that there’s Joe on guitar, playing through a Vox I might add, and Amanda on drums and no other instruments. I can see keyboards fitting in nicely, as they did with another Chicago two piece that unfortunately broke up called Happy Supply
This was the second time Cinchel and I had seen seen Gravenhurst, the first being during a solo performance opening up for Chicago band favorite Midstates at the Empty Bottle. At that point, he was touring for his intricate and beautiful album “Flashlight Seasons” which has the delicate little melodies one would expect from someone like Neil Halstead with the darkness of another band I love, Timonium. (Don’t let Timonium’s record cover for Until He Finds Us fool you-it’s really a beautiful and haunting record even though it looks like it’s going to be new age crap.)
Gravenhurst’s newer album, Fires In Distant Buildings appears to be getting much more critical acclaim and recognition than Flashlight Seasons and it definitely rocks out more, which was reflected in the live performance (every song they played but one was off of this newer album). Not completely missing was the dark detailed guitar playing but the performance came off as less intimate. I also felt that although there was a good crowd and quite a few awe struck admirers up front, their presence was being too overlooked by others present, especially in the back. The Abbey Pub is notorious for having crowds like this (I’ll never forget when we went to see Beulah play and someone actually yelled out midway through, “Play the hit!”) It’s pretty set in a neighborhood far away from pretty much everything on the north side of Chicago and they get alot of obnoxious neighborhood people that are really there to drink up and have a god time vs. honor any artistic merit and integrity of the bands there. I’ve had so many bad experiences at the Abbey that I have actually boycotted the place for months at a time.
In any case, the other difference between this performance and their performance awhile back at the Empty Bottle is that not only was there a bassist and a drummer for this show but also Nick Talbot’s sarcastic personality (which also really doesn’t fit at all with the music) wasn’t as present. Hailing from Bristol, England, Talbot came off as quite a showman before and was quiet during the interim times of this performance, with unfortunately no witty banter. Still, great to see them live again and hopefully Gravenhurst will continue to gain more fans and recognition across North America.
(whilst setting up)
Broadcast came off perfectly live I have to say…nice fully enveloping and completely experiential songs. Trish Keenan’s sugary sweet melodies came through so distinctly that they gave guidance to all of the shimmer. They concentrated a bit more heavily on Tender Buttons but played a pretty well rounded set, delving into some of the deeper cuts off of their earlier albums. One couldn’t help stand there mesmerized listening to the pretty swirls and watching as their visuals projected onto a screen as well as their own selves.
Click to see even more pictures of BROADCAST, GRAVENHURST, and THE LIKE YOUNG
BROADCAST:
(The above were all taken when the band was setting up and the lighting was substantially better; below are more of the ones from the performance when my flash was not used)
GRAVENHURST:
Wow, this guy’s on fire! 
THE LIKE YOUNG:
