St. Vincent News!! Ongoing Thread For All Things St. Vincent- Will Be Updated As Needed

How do you know this?

 

She played last night in London.

Without a band.

 

Here's setlist from London:
St. Vincent Setlist at O2 Academy Brixton, London

Film: The Birthday Party

Marry Me
Now, Now
The Strangers
Actor Out of Work
Cruel
Cheerleader
Strange Mercy
Digital Witness
Rattlesnake
Birth in Reverse

MASSEDUCTION:
Hang on Me
Pills
Masseduction
Sugarboy
Los Ageless
Happy Birthday, Johnny
Savior
New York
Fear the Future
Young Lover
Dancing With a Ghost
(on setlist as 'Slow Disco Interlude')
Slow Disco
Smoking Section

 

Well, that settles it.

Did you see the show? If yes, how was it?

 

I did not (was eating a delicious meal in Chinatown), but my friend who attended and has been a fan since Love This Giant said that the absence of the band was noticeable in terms of sound, but the stage set and performance were excellent.

 

Thanks.

Only 8 more days to wait for me.

 

Oh, I actually forgot to comment the new album earlier here on this thread. Here's my few words about "Masseduction":
The new album is grower and good one, I think it will open fully within time but for some strange reason I liked it already from the first listening.
Which surely was pleasant surprise for me, eventhough I had liked the few songs that were released as snippets and singles of the new album.
I had some prejudice as the previous album was such monster and her past work has been eclectic, so this still seems to be step towards the unknown..

 

From last night's show (not my photo).
I'm sure @raphph will have some winning shots of his own.

 

I went to to the show last night, and left seriously believing it to be the best show I've seen in a long time.

Imagine my surprise to see attendees ripping it to pieces online! Absolutely I noticed quite a few people leave early, but I saw even more people enraptured in a way you don't really see at gigs so much anymore.

So, in short, it seems this tour is going to be splitting audiences. I suppose it depends how open you are to the lack of a band. Annie's voice soars and her guitar screams as ever, but it's a one-woman show. If you're cool with that, you will love it.

 

OK my take on last night - I like the new album...

Not having a band conceptualised the gig as more art-rock than a memorable performance. At times it was cold, emotionless, calculated and lacked any feeling. Barely anyone moved in the crowd - no dancing - and yes lots left early...It became repetitive very quickly... She was on stage for 80 mins and felt like over two hours....

3 stars out of 5

Her gig at the Roundhouse on the last tour was much better.....I'm still digesting it...

 

Also - I don't think it helped that she was quite far pushed back from the audience when on stage - it created a distance....

I have seen as many 5 star reviews as I have 1 star reviews for last night...

I was quite close to front - but photos above look like I was quite far back....

 

I'm assuming there was no support, that the film was the "opening act"?

 

That film probably destroyed lots of good will in the crowd

 

What was/is it?

 

It's called The Birthday Party, and it's directed by Annie.

St. Vincent On Her Directing Debut, The Birthday Party | Pitchfork

 

Thanks! Thought I'd read something about that, but couldn't find anything with a cursory search online...

 

She was on BBC Radio 6 yesterday. Available to listen to anyway for the next 28 days. Nearer the end but it was interesting and she played a few songs on her own.

BBC Radio 6 Music - Lauren Laverne, With St Vincent

 

In what way, being better or worse sound?

 

I just don't see what the appeal would be of seeing her stand on a stage and sing to an instrumental version of the album, occasionally playing a few licks on the guitar (with heavy effects added, of course). To each their own, but I'm not paying $$$ and dealing with a crowd for that.

 

I'm ok with her playing solo but doing the whole album in order is kind of a turn off... Isn't that what you do for the 20th year reunion tour?

 

I'd say she has the charisma to pull it off. And it's a great spectacle in terms of lights. I think once people know what they are expecting then thoughts on this will pick up. To each their own, obviously, but I can't say I feel short changed.

Could be a Brixton thing, also. The layout means that hardly anybody in the upper section can see the edge of the stage at all. I certainly couldn't and I'm 6'4" and was near the front of the seats! I never caught a view of the crowd below at all which was a bit of a shame.

 

The album is largely electronic, so I suppose she figured, why bring (and pay) a band to play music that's programmed? A computer can play it.

 

Man, I didn't even notice that, but you're right. Even worse. I can listen to the album at home. What a waste.

 

Her previous touring band wouldn't make a lot of sense for the new material unless it was completely rearranged for that configuration. If you're going to be triggering a bunch of loops and tracks anyway, why not just lean into it? The clips of the show I've seen online make it quite clear that she's put a lot of thought into this approach. It's okay for an artist to try new things.

I actually wish more acts would just play through an album in sequence if there isn't too much filler. Albums are sequenced for a reason. I've seen plenty of shows from acts that are touring on their first record and they jumble up the songs in a way that is almost always worse than the album's sequence.

 

I must break out my John Waters box set...