El Guincho with The Ruby Suns and Pikelet

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Cassette #9, Auckland

 While not as exciting and action-packed as I expected it would be, El Guincho’s gig last week in Auckland was a party. My thoughts that there wasn’t such a good dance had at an indie gig in Auckland in ages were echoed; it really was fun-filled music that we were treated to that night. Pikelet started it all off with an inspiring and interesting performance, with surely the best-used and most utilised echoplex I’ve seen in a live setting, possibly ever. Her harsh-as-ice Björk-like voice filled the room with emotion and impulse, swimming easily and enticingly over the myriad of live drum beats that she created by hitting sticks or drums or the mic a few times then letting it loop over and over as she created more and more similar textures. With melodian, floor tom, Casio and acoustic guitar, she created amazing songs that seemed both simple and complex all at once. I am really looking forward to her next show here on Saturday with the East Brunswick All Girls Choir, Drumheller, Boyfriend and God Bows To Math (the latter’s last show ever, how cruel!).

It was probably the weirdest set I’d ever seen by The Ruby Suns, made up for at least by their amazing and astounding cover of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill. It’s a popular choice of quirky cover, with Patrick Wolf also renowned for his splendid take on it, but The Ruby Suns really made it their own and gave it their all, and it was awesome to see. Disappointingly however, their show was marred by technical difficulties, Ryan even pointed it out at one point, saying “this venue has some really weird rules about sound check”. It disjointed their performance so much one has to wonder if this issue needs addressing. If the sound check clashes with patrons’ comfort then perhaps one of the two’s timing needs to be moved. For a band of this nature cannot survive an international support slot without being given decent time to prepare. I still loved The Ruby Suns that night however, despite the ill feelings and unjust sound.

El Guincho joined The Ruby Suns on stage for their last song and fortunately this was reversed later in the evening. While Pablo was animated and energetic during his colourful and well-executed set, it was disappointing to see such a lack of live instruments actually being played on stage. After my many, many listenings of his album Alegranza! I envisaged a great deal of instrument swapping, dancing around and general carnival-like nature to echo this feeling that comes across on record. But I was sorely disappointed. Pablo stayed glued behind his stack of samplers and keyboards, drilled to the mic that he so happily sang into. And it was really great. We all danced and laughed and had a great time, and it seems El Guincho did too, if only it didn’t feel like they left so quickly and played so few of their great, well-known songs. It could have been sublimely perfect, but it came pretty close.

More El Guincho and Ruby Suns live photos

Posted by Sarah Gooding under Spain