I'm not really sure if I can put my finger on it, but to say that the Islands show on Saturday night met my expectations would be an out and out lie. They set the bar extremely high after the show they put on last time I saw them (May 10th to be exact), at that time they were still a band intact with their original members, and on their very first headlining tour (as Islands)--the energy of that show was palpable. My excitment for this show only grew after hearing reports that Nick's girlfriend had joined the lineup following Jamie's departure which left me very curious to discover how backing female vocals integrated with the songs off the album.
Needless to say, my expectations didn't materialize on the stage. Nick was not joined by his girlfriend (breakup anyone?) and soprted a eeirly painted white face. His jovial between song banter was replaced by silence, and songtitles in almost every case, and to put it plainly he just seemed depressed. None of the usual insanity paired with Islands live shows occured at the SUB Ballroom (see dancing on stage, singing in the streets --video, and pickup basketball), but I did get to see 'Swans' played live for the first time. Last time I saw Islands they were supossed to close with it after their encoure of 'Rough Gem', but during 'Rough Gem' Nick insisted that, "everyone come up and dance on stage." Only to retract the statment after the song, saying that he was really just kidding, and that someone fucked up some wiring during the stage rush so they couldn't play 'Swans'--instead he offered to drink with everyone at the bar after the show. Instead, at the SUB Ballroom Nick and company came out and played 'Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby' as an encoure (yeah, I was the drunk kid near the front yelling for I Feel Evil Creepin' In... don't hate), inviting no one to dance on stage--instead he dangled a plastic head on a noose next to him as he sung... kind symbolized the entire night--creepy.
Musically, however, Islands were pretty tight and played a great set full of new songs, and even a Kinks cover. I was also glad to see my personal favorite, 'Where There's a Will There's a Whalebone' preformed live this time with the other MC on the track, Subtitle (whose set was unbearably boring at times). The new songs were great though, but I can't stop the thought that they might never be recorded in studio from entering my head. If this show is any indication, it seems like the Islands might be going the way of the Unicorns before them, and leave us with only 'what if's' and concert bootlegs. I sincerely hope this isn't the case, but it seems a very real possibility... only time will tell if (as their slogan suggests) Islands really are forever.
Islands - Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby
P.S.
My school is having a great year this year as far as shows go... I just got a ticket to Minus the Bear on Nov. 17th and The Faint and Ratatat are coming back to back on the 30th and December 1st should be an insane half-month of music here in Bellingham! This might be a stretch, but I'd be hardpressed to find a school in the west with better indie shows this year...
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