Even so, I suspect she was still wondering what the hell was going on when I turned up at her door dressed as I was for a trip to see Moon Duo, another band she had never heard of in her puff.
To be fair, Moon Duo aren’t exactly household names.
Then again, neither are many of my favourite bands.
She delivered a captivating set that fitted the evening perfectly and afterwards I had a nice chat with her. One of the pleasures of smaller gigs is that musicians are often happy to mingle with the audience afterwards, and it’s always good to be able to tell someone you enjoyed their performance in person rather than shouting it into the internet void.
Then it was time for Moon Duo.
If you’ve never seen them live, the first thing that strikes you is the atmosphere. Their music has a hypnotic quality, built around repetitive rhythms, swirling guitars and psychedelic grooves that gradually pull you into their world.
The second thing that struck everyone that night was a large barrier positioned between the band and the audience.
This wasn’t security trying to stop a riot.
It was part of the stage production, used to enhance the lighting effects and create an immersive visual experience. The lights bounced and reflected off it in interesting ways and, personally, I thought it added something unique to the performance.
Not everybody agreed.
One woman in the audience was particularly unimpressed and felt it was important that Moon Duo knew exactly how she felt about it.
After almost every song she voiced her objections.
Loudly.
The band, to their credit, took it all in good humour, although I suspect they were probably wondering why somebody had chosen to attend a psychedelic rock concert only to spend half the evening conducting a running debate about stage design.
As for me, I quite liked it.
It was different.
Would I want every band to start putting barriers between themselves and the audience?
Probably not.
Part of the magic of live music is the connection between performers and crowd, and I wouldn’t want that disappearing behind sheets of plastic and elaborate lighting rigs. But for Moon Duo, whose music often feels like a journey into another dimension, it somehow made sense.
The visuals complemented the sound and helped create an experience that felt slightly detached from reality.
Which, when you think about it, is exactly what psychedelic music is supposed to do.
By the end of the evening, Emma had survived yet another one of my musical adventures and gained another band she’d never previously heard of. Whether she was entirely convinced by Moon Duo’s hypnotic sonic landscapes, bizarre visuals and audience participation from the anti-barrier lady, I’m not entirely sure.
But she certainly wasn’t bored.
The videos below capture some of the evening, including Anna Pluto’s support set and Moon Duo’s mesmerising performance. If you’re in the mood for something a little different, press play and let your brain drift off somewhere interesting.
The Photos
Cheers!
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