LIVE AT THE FILLMORE

I don’t get particularly excited about dredg, and really don’t consider them to be a progressive band at all. They’re a pretty good indie band, not all that far away from the Decemberists or Arcade Fire or maybe even the Shins. Which is to say they are very good individual musicians, and as a collective they perform professionally and proficiently. But they don't give me goosebumps or anything.

But it’s hard to get overly excited about their music unless you are a hardcore fan. Sonically this recording is quite good, and sounds excellent on a good stereo (and not bad at all in my car either, which has a decent stereo but nothing overly fancy). And the tracks are decent enough, with a healthy dose from both ‘Catch Without Arms’ and ‘El Cielo’. There are only a couple tracks from ‘leitmotif’, but that one is not the band’s strongest anyway, so no big loss there.

Detractors include the absence of “Jamais Vu” and “Spitshine” from ‘Catch Without Arms’, both of which are stronger than some of the tracks that were included in my opinion, and particularly more so than “Ode to the Sun” or “Tanbark is Hot Lava”. Also a few new songs or even B-sides would have given this album a bit of appeal that is otherwise kind of lacking. Basically the band proves they can translate their studio sound to the stage without suffering much. Good for them, but a lot of bands can do that. What can you bring to the stage that’s new and fresh? Not a lot, apparently.

“Stone by Stone” is new, and it’s a decent track, but really Gavin Hayes’ voice is too recognizable and lacking in variety to keep most of their songs from sounding the same. Same goes for “The Warbler”, which if I’m not mistaken is the only other new tune.

“Catch Without Arms”, “The Ornament”, “Not That Simple”, and “Bug Eyes” are the strongest tracks, as they were on their original albums as well. The rest is good, but not great.

This is technically a very good album, but not much of it is new, and what has been recorded before isn’t improved on much or given any additional nuances to explore. This is a decent performance by a band that apparently gives you your money’s worth in a live setting, but that’s about it. Three stars.

peace

Dredg - Live at the Fillmore

So here it is, Dredg's first official live release. The album comprises songs from all three studio albums, as well as two unreleased songs. This live performance starts of with what must be one of the best introduction tracks I've ever heard: The Warbler. Why they haven't released this as a studio track...? Perhaps it will be included on the next album. At least it creates a great vibe to continue with.

Through out the next 70 or so minutes the listener is treated to a collection of songs, mostly of their 2004 release 'Catch without Arms', which are borderline prog if you ask me. More alternative rock than prog methinks. Mind you, that doesn't mean it isn't sheer quality! The band performs rather well, even though the mix is lacking from time to time... the instruments sometimes sound too distorted/noisy for my liking, which keeps me from really enjoying this as much as some of the other live recordings of other artists that I have in my collection.

A cool live show!

Though I have to start saying that my love for dredg is mostly for "El Cielo" and nowadays for "Pariah, Parrot, Delusion", and that I prefer much more listening to those studio albums completely rather than a live one, I am happy with this "Live at the Fillmore" CD, because we can appreciate the band's talent and feeling, and that is always something to thank. In fact, I would actually love to see this band live, hope they come to Mexico sometime soon.

This live album was released in 2006 and consists mostly of songs from their "El Cielo" and "Catch Without Arms" albums. The track selection was very accurate in my opinion, choosing their most representative and maybe best compositions; they also put here the last two songs from their debut album "Leitmotif", so the die-hard fans who are with them since their beginnings, can feel pleased.

There is a nice combination, I mean, they did not offer albums blocks, but they divided the songs in different sections and intercalate them, so we can listen to El Cielo songs (for instance) as tracks 4, 10 and 17, giving a continuous discontinuity (hope you understand what I mean). There are also a couple of non-album tracks, which are the opener "The Warbler" which is pretty nice, and "Stone by Stone" a cool song but that's it.

What I also like is the use of trumpet in a couple of songs, adding a delicious sound to the already good music. My favorite tracks are evidently the El Cielo ones ("Same ol' Road", "Of the Room", "The Canyon Behind Her"), though I also highlight some other such as "Bug Eyes", "The Tanbark is Hot Lava" and "Catch Without Arms". It is a very nice concert, truly enjoyable if you like the band, if you don't know them but like this kind of alternative/indie/progressive bands (heck with the labels) you should try it.

My final grade will be three stars, not essential but pretty good. Enjoy it!