Caribou
Metro 11/20
(Above: before the show and between sets, some amazing dj action was going on with a video screen hooked up to show the two turn tables being changed and in motion as well as flying styrofoam ufos)
Caribou (formerly Manitoba) were the openers for the Super Furry Animals last night but I like them so much I thought they deserved their very own blog post. This was the second time I have seen them, the first being last spring at The Empty Bottle (which is about half of the size of the Metro.) I’d heard reports that they weren’t coming off as well live in much bigger venues but my personal feeling is that they continue to come into their own as a band. I also can’t wait to see them at the Subterranean Dec. 9th. I get the feeling my time is limited to be able to see them at a smaller place and that I truly need to cherish it while I can.
Caribou have a sound that is similar to the really nice melodic sounds of Mice Parade at times. They can be soothing but also live very very loud. We’re talking two drum kits, a sampler, vocals on some tracks, and a guitarist. How three people can make such full and lovely sounds is beyond me. But hey, they are Canadians so expect greatness.
What’s more, Caribou has figured out the sucess of creating such beautiful but somewhat atmospheric music in a live setting-namely, provide visuals. You can actually purchase a dvd of their videos (they are selling it at their shows for $20 or $30 for that and a t-shirt (mine’s pink!) and I would recommend that. The visuals work very well with the music and are widely creative stream of consciousness messes that feature such wonders as a man falling the downstairs because he tried to carry an entire carousel that fit inside a small package, children being carried through the sky by crows, and a drowning man being rescued by a sea horse. You know, things of that nature.
Caribou played mainly songs off their brilliant 2005 release, The Milk of Human Kindness. They actually ended up playing all of my favorite tracks, including “Yeti,” “Subotnick,” “Bees,” “Pelican Narrows,” “Barnowl,” “Brahmniny Kite” and my very very favorite of them all: “Hello Hammerheads.”