DCist had a very tough choice to make last night. We were definitely going to a concert, but which one? Icelandic mood rockers Sigur Ros in Baltimore? Sweet singing Canadian chanteuse Feist at the Birchmere? Scottish indie rockers Idlewild at the Black Cat? We were in quite the predicament so we had to check our concert going guidelines which clearly state, whenever in doubt, go see the band with the Scottish accent. So Idlewild it was.
After hearing an advanced copy of Idlewild’s latest album, Warnings / Promises, during a road trip to Detroit back in June, DCist thought it was the beginning of the end for Idlewild. Our first reaction to the new album’s mostly acoustic based rock had us fearing they had spent too much time touring with Coldplay and were turning into the new Crosby, Stills and Nash. But we were unable to spend time with that record due to our brief trip so we humbly made the trip to the Black Cat to let the band prove us wrong and see if they still had the goods live. And we are very happy to report that they did and they do.
The venue wasn’t very crowded last night, in fact, it was almost depresingly empty when we arrived. But after the music started, the small but rabid audience made it clear that if there was a letdown during the concert, it would not be on their heads. The band, skinny, scruffy and looking more and more like 1984 era REM every day used the small crowd to their advantage, opening up the lines of communication. At one point, early in the concert, lead singer Roddy Woomble admonished himself for talking to much in between songs. “Sometimes you have to shut me up,” he said. Later in the set someone from the crowd yelled at Woomble to get a haircut, and he seemed geniunely hurt at the comment. “But I’m culitvating a new look,” he pleaded before explaining, “Last night in Baltimore, someone told me that I looked like I have a combover.” We’ll let you look at our photos from last night and decide for yourself.
But enough about the band’s chit chat. Woomble and company produced an hour and a half of sheer aural pleasure that included quite a few songs from their first album, including an excellent version of “When I Argue I See Shapes”, a host of new material (which sounded great in the live arena) and a smattering of favorites from the sonic godhead that is 100 Broken Windows, including a closing doubleshot of “These Wooden Ideas” and “Roseability”. We hadn’t seen the band since their line up changes a few years ago, and while former bassist Bob Fairfoull had the best. name. ever., the new lineup fills out the band’s live sound much better. At one point, DCist caught ourselves rocking out a la Beavis & Butthead during a rousing rendition of “Little Discourage”. Then we remembered we were at an indie rock show and dutifully put our hands pack in our pockets and just nodded our head.
