Sea Wolf
The evening began with Los Angeles’ Sea Wolf who seemed to have been the draw for a great many of the folks packed into the sanctuary. Due to some inclement weather I missed most of Sea Wolf’s performance but I did catch the last half-ish of their set from the back of the Church. I say this because where I sat wasn’t the best acoustical position so I don’t feel as though I got the best impression of what Sea Wolf has to offer. That being said, I can share these few observations; the cello was extraordinary, claiming an effortless spot amongst the rest of the band as though it were a female vocal line; the group needs to improve their general stage presence as they looked rather bored; their songs volleyed nicely between catchy pop and carefully built ambitious arrangements. All in all, I’d say Sea Wolf has a rightful claim on their place in the hearts of the indie masses.
The Album Leaf
The transition between sets was smooth as The Album Leaf, touring with a full band plus a string quartet quickly organized themselves and began playing. The ambient rock group, helmed by Jimmy Lavalle, is totally at home in the sanctuary of a church where their music can stretch and sore as the arrangement dictates. As the multiple instruments contributed their share to an astoundingly dense sonic whole a choreographed series of images were dancing on a scrim behind them as lights scattered around the stage pulsed in time.
The visual component working in tandem with the beautifully orchestrated music accentuated it’s cinematic quality. Lavalle creates music that takes your imagination places; he doesn’t hold your hand and walk you through the song instead he provides the catalyst – and soundtrack- to let your mind wander.
While many, including myself, associate The Album Leaf with electronic music the live show is actually a well balanced combination of synths, keys, guitars, strings and bass. The quartet that had accompanied them gave the music a lusciousness absent from strictly synthesized material. Lavalle’s greatness is intricately tied to his awareness of the boundaries of traditional and electro music making. A yin and yang relationship that was on its finest display last Sunday. After experiencing The Album Leaf live I’m not sure whether their records will be enough to satiate me. Of course, I’ll keep on listening until the next opportunity to see them arrives.