Blind Pilot at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen

Blind Pilot at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen

06 July, 2011
by: Mewcy

Friendly folk that's freshly squeezed...

Less is more. It's what 'Snog, Marry, Avoid' tells us so it must be true, right? Granted, it may not apply to things like bank accounts but it certainly suits music at times - bands like Blind Pilot in particular. When they drew a substantial crowd to the sauna-like space hidden within Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen they delivered a set that went from amblingly pleasant to a completely new class through one simple, but daring move. Going unplugged.

When you know you're going to see a band from Portland, Oregon performing folksome indie rock, it's pretty safe to assume that it's going to be an amiable bunch on stage creating an environment of loveliness. It's also pretty awesome to see a broad, beardy, heavily tattooed guy you can envisage headbanging on the main stage at Download delicately flow across the bars of a xylophone. In fact, the broad array of instruments on stage is one of Blind Pilot's USP's for a live show. It's nice to have a change from a textbook formula by drafting in double bass, accordion, trumpet, banjo, ukelele and some other unidentifiable instrument that looked like it had been stolen from a Time Team dig. I'll say it was a hurdy-gurdy, as it's one of my favourite words.

Working through favourites like 'The Story I Heard' and 'Oviedo', the warmth bursting out of each note was irresistible. An atmosphere was created which felt safe and warm like napping in a meadow or petting a magical pony. It's partly down to the Americana folk roots and easy tempo of the music, but it's also a by-product of the band's striking closeness. It's a togetherness measured through their tight harmonisation and the undertone of all those hours of jamming that come shining through as they make everything seem light and easy in their sweetly uncomplicated sound.

The night also offered a platform for the eagerly-anticipated new material. The energetic beat of 'We Are The Tide' made for a highlight in particular, with a sudden new depth of drum beat providing a welcome pep to the otherwise hypotisingly hazy lull. The end of the set soon crept up and 'Three Rounds and a Sound' had not yet featured, making the let's-go-off-stage-in-wait-for-an-encore more of a hollow gesture than normal- particularly when that particular venue lacks a backstage area. Upon 'reappearing', vocalist Israel Nebeker told us that the band had played an impromptu gig at Jamboree the night before and had to resort to playing unplugged after the police called by in response to a noise complaint. The most unlikely bunch of criminals we now saw stood before us asked us if we thought it would be a good idea to go unplugged for the last song. If there was a single 'no', I certainly didn't hear it.

It was with the abandonment of technology and stepping down to stand amid their audience that Blind Pilot really came to life. In those last three minutes we realised just how much better the past hour or so could have been if it weren't for the logistics of having to play to a large crowd. Those instruments and their sound are made to be stripped back. The clarity of each element and the delicacy produced through it's unprocessed state took their music to a new level. You were able to appreciate the musicianship and drink in the purity of it's goodness. The latter may have sounded like I was likening this band to juice. I wasn't, but if I were, then this would be the difference between freshly squeezed and 'from concentrate'.

Freshly squeezed Blind Pilot elevated this set from being a good night out to a truly memorable gig, and I can only hope that they are able to offer the 'unplugged' experience to more of their audiences in future. But whether they can or not, I can highly recommend that you check out this sonic pick-me-up. You won't regret it.

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Mewcy