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May 16, 2006
Danielson - Live @ Northsix, Brooklyn - 5.13.2006
Photos by Devon Banks.
So, in desperate need of a soaping after Giant Drag, we ventured back into the well lit confines of Brooklyn's Northsix for the wholesome spectacle that is a concert by the Famile Danielson. Not just any concert mind you, but the release party for their widely respected new album Ships. Sufjan Stevens, heartthrob to the horn rimmed, was quickly spotted chatting with a nice elderly couple who were likely senior Smiths here for their kids' big night. Being back in a non-Clear Channel venue, things were running late.
Having a bit of time to ruminate on what it is that makes the new record so worthy of celebration, I brought to mind a classic of my childhood cinemania, Muppets Take Manhattan (actually I went to get some beers, but stay with me for a second). In that film, when Kermit finally awakes from his ad-man amnesia it finally dawns on him what has been missing from his Broadway musical. More of well, everything. More dogs, and bears, and chickens, and things. It appears Dan Smith might have had a similar epiphany, as Ships just has MORE. The animal kingdom might not be quite as represented, but there is more Deerhoof, more Sufjan, more Serena Maneesh, more voices, more instruments, but also more structure, more memorable choruses, etc. When the time finally came for the set up to begin, the maximalism was on obvious display. Two drumkits, two keyboards, guitars, tamborines, a xylophone, and green notebooked hymnals. Everywhere, the hymnals.
Finally taking the stage in sharp blue policeman (and police nurse?) uniforms, that believe it or not were fairly reserved for the band, the D fam was as always a formidible visual presence. Only two female vocalists in tow this time, Elin and Megan to be precise, that I suspect might have had to do with the need for more specific instrumentation for the complex arrangements. Gracious thanks, and away we went.
Set and album opener, "Ship the Majestic Suffix," gave a good indication of what we were in for. Despite a healthy dose of nautical wordplay, the title reveals that this song is really about a love of language. How adding "ship" can turn your singular friend into a two way friend-ship. How changes in language change meaning, elevating lonely nouns into warming concepts of community. A bit touchy feely, I guess, but also very clever tackling of commonplace, minute subject matter ignored by countless "so there was this girl" type lyricists, and refreshing in these decidedly anti-intellectual times. Reminiscent of David Byrne crafting odes to paper and oxygen. Of course, all the smarts in the world are useless without a performing conviction, and the band came through, with Dan Smith's high pitched whisper giving way to a thrilling eight vocalist blast on numerous occasions.
The set focus was almost exclusively on their new material, which was great since the dedicated core crew was ably replicating the work of dozens that brought the album to life. So, not surprisingly, the album's highlights were the set's as well. "Bloodbook on the Halfshell," an enthusiastic rocker about the library was a prime example. The genius of this one is in it's decision, once transitioning from slow to fast, to keep picking up speed for a third gear rather than receding into a more conventional A-B dynamic. With all of the cascading sounds and voices, meshed perfectly on stage, the progressive exhilaration was dizzying. And the hand claps, good God the handclaps.
Dan tipped his hat as to the impending arrival of the band's finest moment, "Did I Step on Your Trumpet?" by asking if anyone on the audience had indeed, stepped on a trumpet. When some drunk said that he had, Dan met him with playful skepticism. "Really? On the bell?" No, the drunk guessed not. But, Dan isn't one to make you feel bad, and cheered everyone in the room with the soaring psychedelic chorus, and hilariously bizarre lyrical turns. Also gets as close to trash talk as he's likely to come with the very true line about detractors who might not have been able to enjoy the moral, religious overtones of some of their previous albums, "I've been called the wet blanket/ By cranks who I outrank/ But do-oooooo not have/ a clue." Preach on, brother.
A good time to note that as much as religion has been (fairly) mentioned in regards to their work, the new album and its live rendition is less overtly Christian than ever. The one unambiguously scripture inspired track "My Lion Sleeps to Night" was even excised in favor of a snappy ditty ("Singers Go First") from their until recent peak, Fetch the Compass Kids. The tone was more about general celebration, and good feeling and it acheived both in a way that's less saccharine and obvious than the ironically more creepily cultish Polyphonic Spree. The set closer, "Five Stars and Two Thumbs Up," spread the love both ways as the band thanked all collaborators and fans, wishing them luck in their endeavors in a typically well phrased manner.
The encore was even more community minded, as he prefaced their final number, the older "Cutest lil' Dragon" by declaring that "This one is a sing-along." There had been previous attempts at audience participation (a couple of "clap-alongs") that hadn't gone entirely to plot, the crowd struggling to keep up with the complexly giddy two drummered beat. This time Brother Daniel took us by the hand, laying out the lyrics and giving us a practice run before starting. It worked out well, a dog tired and boozy room just giving itself over to togetherness. He had turned the relation between audience and performer into a relation-ship. It was a mighty fine time indeed.
Tags: Danielson Famille, Sufjan Stevens, Northsix, Christian Indie Rock, Ricky Schroeder on Drums
Posted by Jeff Klingman at May 16, 2006 10:38 AM
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Comments
Wish I could have been there. I just posted about their new album and really want to see them live.
Posted by: Charles at May 17, 2006 06:38 AM
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