![Perform - Crystal Antlers [Live] @ Retro Bar, Manchester](http://hangout.altsounds.com/images/icons/perform.gif "Perform - Crystal Antlers [Live] @ Retro Bar, Manchester")
Crystal Antlers [Live] @ Retro Bar, Manchester
Thursday 12th March 2009 March 15, 2009, 11:09 PM Views: 555
Comments: 2
 I don’t know if it’s just my home city of Manchester, but for all the numerous positives to be taken from seeing a band in an intimate venue, there is one rather major drawback – the sound. So many of the smaller venues in this city just don’t have adequate sound systems/engineers. Now both are forgivable to a degree, as these venues just don’t have the same resources as their larger rivals, but that doesn’t make it any less disappointing when you encounter a band as clearly ardent and determined to put on a great show as Crystal Antlers, and their performance is a little marred by the inadequacy of the sound.
Retro Bar in truth is one of the worst in the city that I have experienced. Hiding away underneath a multi-storey car park, it’s a spit n sawdust type venue for sure, a place normally reserved for club nights or unsigned bands, and their sound-system just isn’t good enough to give clarity to the band’s songs, meaning much of their melody is a little lost under their noise. Fortunately their nosier moments are strong enough to survive the loss of nuance, and this is never more evident than on penultimate song and debut EP highlight “Parting Song for the Torn Sky”. Somehow summoning the spirits of the two great lefties, Kurt and Jimi, the band blow the car park off the place and leave jaws on Converse. The track could be played in a washing machine by blind baby monkeys and still sound like the greatest rock song this century, so even this venue can’t deny Crystal Antlers this moment to truly shine. It’s absolutely colossal, and even on its own is worth every penny tonight’s crowd paid.
Frontman Jonny Bell leads the band well, carrying a certain presence that augments Crystal Antler’s performance throughout. Percussionist Damian Edwards is perhaps the most visually conspicuous though. He allowed for a bonus game of ‘Sunglasses Bingo’, sporting various different pairs throughout the evening, but his boundless energy was what was most noticeable. And when you’re a part of a performance of great songs such as “Dust”, “Andrew” and “Until the Sun Dies (Part 1)”, it’s not hard to see what summons this energy.
Based on the evidence so far, it’s clear to see how Crystal Antlers are building a passionate fanbase and earning rave reviews. They have passion, soul, energy, power and perhaps most crucially for a rock band, are packed with the devil. Now that sounds good to me.
Last edited by altsounds : March 16, 2009 at 01:56 AM.
|
| | | | Overall Rating | | 8 | | Vocals / Lyrics | | 8 | | Musicianship | | 8 | | Production | | 5 | | Creativity | | 8 | | Lastability | | 8 | | Reviewers Tilt | | 9 |
77% | |
| |
| 
![Crystal Antlers [Live] @ Retro Bar, Manchester](http://hangout.altsounds.com/geek/gars/images/4/0/3/0/crystalantlers.jpg "Crystal Antlers [Live] @ Retro Bar, Manchester")
![Crystal Antlers [Live] @ Retro Bar, Manchester - Reply With Quote](http://www.altsounds.com/i/quote.png "Crystal Antlers [Live] @ Retro Bar, Manchester - Reply With Quote"){kind=small}
![Default - Re: Crystal Antlers [Live] @ Retro Bar, Manchester](http://www.altsounds.com/i/posticon.gif "Default - Re: Crystal Antlers [Live] @ Retro Bar, Manchester")
Re: Crystal Antlers [Live] @ Retro Bar, Manchester
Crystal Antlers make UK return in March