It’s 10:25 PM and I finally finished today’s quota of procrastination. I can’t afford to fall further behind in my blogging, so I better start writing. This is my no work an all play week and I’m taking full advantage of it. Last night I saw the Scottish band Talisk at City Winery. This was my second time seeing them live and the second time being totally blown away. Their concerts take command of your attention, there is nothing else but the immediate experience. It’s liking getting a jolt directly to your pleasure center. City Winery is a seated venue but the crowd, me included spent much of our time on our feet. The band encourages people to stand and I needed no encouragement, just the knowledge that I wasn’t being rude to others. I’d rather have watched the entire show standing, well on my feet, my feet wouldn’t be still. They weren’t still even when sitting. I was clapping and stomping throughout the show. When Talisk plays their tear holes in spacetime. The audience enters a realm chaos magic. My words fail me, how can mere words compare to music? This is not a bombastic over-amplified rock band. It’s a simple trio, fiddle, concertina, and guitar with stompbox. That’s all they need to generate the excitement you might associate with Led Zeppelin. Remember the scene in Thor Ragnarok, where Thor enters battle to Immigrant Song? If there were a Scottish god or hero that was a force of nature his music would be Talisk. How come I know nothing of Scottish myths and legends? If the band were Irish, I’d have no trouble coming up with Cuchulainn. I’ll have to research that, write a movie, and have Talisk provide the music.
The place was packed and a big part of the fun was enjoying the excitement of the crowd. There was a young woman next to me sitting across from her boyfriend. You’ll see her hair in the video and photos. I could have had a fun time just watching those two. She was letting out whoops and screaming for pure joy, as was I. She had an enormous smile across her face as did others in the crowd. We talked after and she was enjoying my joy too.
I thought the show was in the Loft, that’s how it was originally listed. They most have sold better than they expected, it was moved to the main venue. It was almost a sellout. That’s good, more reason for the band to come back. When they do I want you to be there too. I expect my friends that love Great Big Sea would love Talisk too, even though it’s pretty much all instrumentals. One song that’s a highlight involves the crowd echoing the concertina and fiddle with our voices. There are no words so I can remember them. Singing along always increases the magic. Listening should always be active, but it’s easier when you are making music too.
I don’t know what happened to my video, they were supposed to be longer than I recorded but I can at least show you a small sample that includes the crowd.
Here are some pictures. I couldn’t take that many as I was too busy clapping and stomping. Maybe that’s why the videos are short. They seemed longer as I wanted to stop recording and start participating in the merry making.
My week of celebrating not working continues tomorrow as I see Moulin Rouge with Alison. We are going out to dinner after. Today I saw Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 3D. I’ll have to recap that, and films I’ve watched on TV after a slow day.
Now go out there and see a band that makes you feel the way Talisk affects me.
Wise Madness 