Mew @ Neumo's, 12.10.09

Here be concert photos! Please read on! :)

I first heard Mew last summer when their new single "Introducing Palace Players" was released (you might remember me mentioning the music video with the cute snails). I quickly moved onto their "Frengers" album and instantly fell in love with that as well. When "No More Stories" was released in August, I excitedly bought it as soon as I could, as well as the EP preceding it. Their music is so beautiful and unique. It's had me absolutely obsessed for months (they're my top artist for the past six months on lastfm ;) I made no hesitation in buying tickets when I heard they were touring.

TL;DR: I love this band very much and got a chance to see them play live. And I will now happily share that wonderful experience with you.

So, they played at Neumo's last Thursday, as the title suggests. It was a school night, so I pulled an "FFFFFFF SKOOL!!!!" and had fun for once... so much fun that I only got 4 hours of sleep ;)

But anyways, it was my first time at Neumo's. I can't say whether I liked it better than El Corazon since the crowd size of the shows I saw was quite different, but it's a nice little venue. I love small shows, they're much more personal and fun.

Here's the setlist (thanks to some nice people on the Mew forums)

Intro
Introducing Palace Players
Special (long)
Zookeeper's Boy
Hawaii
Sometimes Life Isn't Easy
Am I Wry? No
156
Repeaterbeater
Silas the Magic Car
Apocalypso
Saviors of Jazz Ballet
Bear
Circuitry of the Wolf
Chinaberry Tree
Beach
Snow Brigade
Louise Louisa

Awesome? Yeah, I thought so. The only song I didn't recognize was "Bear", but the rest of the setlist is soooooooo good. During the encore (after "Beach" I think) they asked us what song we'd like to hear. I was dying for them to play "Swimmer's Chant" seeing as they hadn't really played anything quiet up till that point except for "Silas the Magic Car". Although I didn't get that wish granted, they did play "Snow Brigade" which is also another favourite of mine. I thought "Comforting Sounds" would be a great closer, but it turned out "Louise Louisa" was maybe even better. Mew can do no wrong.

Unfortunately, it took a really long time before even The Lonely Forest (opening band) starting playing, but it was worth the wait.

The Lonely Forest is a band from Anacortes, WA. They released a new album this year called "We Sing The Body Electric!". I regret not buying it there at the show, because I actually enjoyed the songs, but I'll probably end up getting it off amazon or something.

But anyways, I got a few shots of these guys. They were pretty funny. The mic was freakin' out the lead singer and shocking the fillings in his teeth (?!?), so he put his sock over it. It was lol. He asked if this would appear on some blogs. You bet it is ;)

Oh, and call me crazy, but I thought the singer looked like Noah Lennox / Panda Bear. Y/N?

-SQUEEEEEEL-

Bo! They opened with Introducing Palace Players, leading right into Special. It made me so happy, you don't even know.

Trippy lights?

I realized later that the mic stand was in the way of Jonas' head in just about EVERY picture D: But he still looks adorable, so it's o-kay.

These next few are too awesome, I can't pick just one

I love the lights !

Snazzy 8)

Again, such cool lighting. I especially love the red.

Gahh, I just love these guys. I didn't have a chance to meet them at this show, but maybe next time :) I still can't stop listening to Mew. I don't really go to shows that often, so that might be the reason for obsessing after seeing this show... but either way, an amazing show always leaves you ecstatic and longing for more. And this most certainly was an "amazing show". I hope I'll see these guys again someday :)

If you've noticed... no, I couldn't see Silas or the bassist very well. Or... not at all. I was standing off to the right and everyone was taller than me by at least a head. I didn't really know beforehand what kind of fanbase Mew attracted. I only knew that almost no one my age listens to them. That stayed true, seeing as most of the people there were young adults... not really anyone under 17 or 18. It was still very fun though. I absolutely fell in love with "Repeaterbeater" and "Sometimes Life Isn't Easy" after hearing them played live (I remember saying I wasn't impressed with the latter when writing my review of No More Stories... I take it back ;)

Oh, I got an awesome shirt!

On a really random sidenote... I got the new Animal Collective EP, "Fall Be Kind", yesterday. Good stuff. Once I listen to it a few times I'll try to write again. Winterbreak starts Saturday. I just have to live through tomorrow. O-kay, bye now.

[currently listening to: White Lips Kissed - Mew]

Posted by Anna at December 12, 2009 08:30 PM