There are too many superlatives to describe what I just experienced. The venue was the WaMu Theatre in Seattle. It holds about 8,000 I am told, and it was pretty packed tonight. This must have been their first show in Seattle since 1991 or 1992, I couldn't find any information on past Seattle shows. As one of 6 gigs planned for this year I must say we were very lucky to have them up here to play for us.

They played a varied set that was a nice mix of their studio albums and EPs. The band was as tight as any band I've ever heard. Every note was precise and dynamic. Some highlights for me were Only Shallow, You Made Me Realise, Soft As Snow, and Soon.

The volume, this band is notorious for being loud. I thought I was prepared for what was about to follow. I had my very nice pair of earplugs and thought it'd be loud, but no problem. I was wrong, even with my earplugs in it was louder than the loudest surf/club gig I've ever been to. Absolutely insane. With the second to last song, soon, they reached a new volume peak that had grown the entire song. The final song, You Made Me Realise, got even louder, which I did not think possible. Experiencing this was one of the great moments of my life. The audience bonded in a way I've never seen at any show, and I will never see again(unless they come back). I read all about this noise explosion and it was beyond explosion. I've heard sound so loud that you can feel it vibrate your chest before, but this.... I felt everything on my body vibrate my hair, my nose, my eyes, my legs, feet and especially my heart and chest. It was insane, and this went one for around 15 minutes, although my roommate thinks it was around 20 minutes. It was incredible, and it just got louder and louder. It felt and sounded like being on a rocket launch pad. It surpassed an aircraft taking off, fighter jets buzzing the ground and then crossing the speed of sound. It was incredibly. My ears were going crazy. My roommate could hardly breathe through his nose. 60% of the audience was covering their ears, even though I didn't see a single person without earplugs. The earplugs just didn't cut it for this. It was a truly transcendental moment. Everyone should experience this once in their life.

They hardly bantered, which I didn't mind. You needed the space inbetween the songs to recover. Bilinda mentioned how much she mentioned her two boys, and said a couple other things which I couldn't hear too well.

Guitars and Amps.... Bilinda had 3 Jazzmasters, 2 custom mustangs, and 4 Jaguars. She played through a Vox handwired AC 30, and two full marshall stacks. Kevin had 3 Jaguars, and 4-5 Jazzmasters and he had 2 Vox AC30s, one hiwatt full stack, two Marshall full stacks, a Fender Tonemaster, another amp I couldn't tell what it was, and an acoustic amp. His pedal board was gigantic, though I couldn't make out effects.

Also, the lights were fantastic. One of the best I've seen.

Some pictures that aren't from this show, but show the band off.

Bilinda Butcher:

Last edited: Apr 28, 2009 12:35:07

Very cool that you had the opportunity to see MBV Jake. Thanks for the show report.

Ryan
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Good show report, Jake. That sounds a lot like the show I saw in '92 (which incidentally was in Vancouver, Canada, and I expect they played Seattle on that tour - in fact, I seem to remember that they did). The sheer volume on You Made Me Realize is truly a stunning thing. It definitely creates a physical reaction among those present. I remember reaching this place of pure calm about 5-8 minutes into the middle part, feeling as if I was submerged in an ocean - while still being able to breathe. It was a pretty amazing sensation. But there were some people around losing their minds (along with their hearing!). Lots of people crouching down and holding their ears really tight. I didn't have ear plugs for the show. Might explain why now buzzing is my constant companion - just another brick (or several) out of my ear wall.... Anyway, glad you were able to see them. It is an amazing experience.

Ivan
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I can't imagine doing it without earplugs. Even with earplugs people were crouching to the ground. There was one guy who didn't have earplugs in that looked like he was in pain the whole night.

I'm still not doing okay this morning. I can't imagine what you went through without plugs. I took one plug out for a second or two during You Made Me Realise and there is a considerable difference between my two ears this morning.

Your reactions to the volume of Realise is pretty much what I experienced. I reached the calm at about 5 minutes, which made the last 10+ minutes blissful. And then there were the people crouching and trying to hide. Truly amazing. And then when it was over I had never seen so many truly amazed faces.

As for your comment about "being submerged in an ocean and still being able to breathe". That is a great description, however there were some of those who didn't look like they were breathing too well when the biggest onslaught of chest thumping started.

Those are great photos.

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Sounds like a cool show, I'd totally go if they came here (they won't).

(defunct) Thee Jaguar Sharks

Plus! Other stuff not surf: https://soundcloud.com/jamesmileshq
Enjoy every minute

davidj
A couple friends of mine went to the Austin show, they said people were actually throwing up cause it was so loud.

And sound guys complain when my Showman is on 5

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bigtikidude
Damn they played at Cochella,
I had no idea.
that would have been cool to see,
and being its outside would have been slightly less of a barrage on the ears.

Yes, but I bet their indoor shows have fewer naked wizards. Advantage: indoor.

-Warren

That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it.

I kinda dug them in the early 90's- it sounds like a good time, with the exception of potentially permanent hearing loss. That reminds me, I'm seeing Rev Horton Heat this Friday, from experience does anyone recommend earplugs?

Mike
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Jeff(bigtikidude)