SANTA ANA WINDS BRING SEASICKNESS

Mew
The Mod Club Theatre
September 25, 2006

Arrived last night at the venue too early as usual. There were no support band details and the show start time was listed as 9pm. I didn't want to risk missing part of Mew's set. Mistake on my part. Had to endure an opening band...didn't catch their name, and wasn't interested in knowing who it was. Watched one song, then Mark and I decided to head out to the street front patio to get some air, the club was pretty full and already hot. Stayed outside until almost 10pm, saw the girl bassist from Most Serene Republic also on the patio, wanted to inquire if they we're working on a new record, but didn't. Mew started their set at 10:15pm on time and launched into the first two songs from And The Glass Handed Kites Circuitry of the Wolf and Chinaberry Tree. They sounded incredible from the get go. Their sound was soooo full, layered and complex; I honestly didn't think they were going to be able to recreate the "bigness" of the record live. But they did. Mark and I were discussing their set, and both of us felt that their newer material sounded much better, I think it's because it's much more involved whereas their old stuff is more straight ahead rock. The inclusion of many ballads in their set list starting to grate on my nerves mid way through their set. Set highlights: Special and Why Are You Grave? featuring strange video of J. Mascis singing back-up. I think Mew as artists are conflicted. Apparent by their choice of pre-show tour bus viewing (while standing on the patio outside Mod Club, we were able to see their tv through the bus blinds) of U2, they seem to want to be HUGE, but can't decide which route to take to get there. Do they stick to their old ways, and push their heavier-Coldplay-sappy ballad sound, or do they go balls out modern prog rock as heard on their latest disc. Only time can tell.