DCist: The Magnetic Fields @ Lisner Auditorium

SuperDrew

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:25:02 -0500

I'm with you cohi. I'm a big fan and I thought it was really cool to hear all the songs totally reimagined. Some of them didn't really stand up ("Drive On, Driver" which I love on the album and didn't love last night) and some really did ("All My Little Words" which was beautiful and sad.) I can see that the show wasn't for everyone, but personally I loved it. I wish I could buy an un-distorted live version of "Distortion."

cohi

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:01:01 -0500

I thought the show was incredible, the chatter charming, the opening act perfect and the lack of distortion on the new songs great (if you wanted to hear the song exactly like it is on the album, listen to the album). I could have sat in that uncomfortable seat and listened to them play every song he's ever written.

darlamarks

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:12:36 -0500

as a magnetic fields fan, i came with low expectations so i was not disappointed.

SystemError

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:56:34 -0500

If I were to just take the songs, I'd say this was a pretty good show. If I took the entire performance as a whole, I'm pretty disappointed. The inane chatter was one thing, endearing at first, then increasingly grating as the night went on. It slowed the flow of the show down to a crawl. Taking about an hour to do about 12 songs. Then they had the audacity to do an intermission. To come back for another 30 minutes. If you would shut up and play the songs, maybe work out a set list before hand and work on some transitions, you could do the whole set quicker. I feel bad Stephin Merrit was sick. But you know what, be a professional and fight through itdon't let the audience know you're sick. The show must go on. Certainly don't stop the set to FUMBLE WITH THROAT LOZENGES... TWICE! Also, as some above posters noted, some changes in instrumentation and arrangement would have been nice. With the scarce instrumentation they presented last night, all the songs started to sound the same. Other than these complaints, it was wonderful to see them, and to hear "Papa Was a Rodeo" et. al.

HCE

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:52:00 -0500

Opinions are like assholes, and I really don't get this band's popularity. I always assumed their following around here was primarily a result of the Washington DC song.

jilevin

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:42:07 -0500

Love the band but, come on, the show was very, very disappointing. Just because a song is dark doesn't mean it has to be played like a dirge, or pretentiously, like every note is the most important in the world. I mean let's have a little fun too. Gonson's jabber was mostly annoying. Merritt was funny but obviously under the weather. Tvc has it right about there being no distortion in the songs from "Distortion." All the credit in the world to Merritt for great writing and to the band for fantastic studio work. But it just doesn't translate into a good live show. First time in my life I liked the opening act more than the band I came to see. Maybe the second half was better. I wouldn't know, because we left.

ricky d

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:30:31 -0500

Distortion and feedback are two different things.

SuperDrew

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:13:21 -0500

I think it's "are you reaching for a knife?" Great show, though. Incredibly weird and lovely.

tvc15

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:17:24 -0500

The show was fun, but I was a bit disappointed that they played the songs from the new album "cleanly". The album is called Distortions! I wanted some friggin' feedback! But this comes from a hipster who likes to boogie in her seat.. The chatter was amusing, but in a Prairie Home Companion type of way- which made me shudder a bit. I saw the same tousled hair, professorial glasses and jackets at Sarah Vowell's show last Thursday.