Annuals and Manchester Orchestra at Epicentre
Annuals and Manchester Orchestra just killed it last night. I got there a little after 8 (after hitting Tio Leos for some Pacifico) and Annuals had just started so I went right up to the front for some quick action shots....
Adam of the Annuals
Anna of the Annuals
Now that I have seen the Arcade Fire, I can say that the comparisons between Annuals and Arcade Fire are not unfounded. There’s so much going on it’s hard to keep track. I’m guilty of usually just focusing on the lead singer when I am at shows, but you can’t do that with the Annuals. Adam is all over the place, playing keys or guitar or various forms of percussion. Anna is hard to not stare at (though its hard to catch her without her hair in her face.) Mike, the bass player, is super expressive - it’s fun to see what he’s up to at any given time. And they are all so young - I just want to pinch Zach’s cheeks. Haha. Okay, so set list and then more photos and commentary....
Annuals
Epicenter
11/16/07
Complete or Completing
Nah Keseyi
Dry Clothes
Fair
River Run
Ease My Mind
Carry Around
Brother
Sway
Do You
Adam and Anna of the Annuals
At some point, Anna went over to Adam and was trying to tell him something...I thought that was a good moment to capture. As was Manchester Orchestra coming on stage for “Brother”. It was cool to have everyone on stage and just having a great time up there.
Adam of the Annuals and Andy of Manchester Orchestra
I moved to the back for the Manchester Orchestra set. Mostly because I didn’t want to take photos and just wanted to enjoy their full set. (I didn’t even take notes.) Besides, I was in good company back there (Tim and Owen from KBZT were there as was Dialed in Rosey and Sunny Natalie.) It’s hard to describe what Manchester Orchestra sounds like....they’ve got some of that loud-soft-loud going but their tour de force is definitely Andy’s vocals and the emotion he puts into them. Like for a song like “Golden Ticket” where the music is super quiet while he is singing and then there’s a sudden burst of energy when the band joins in. You just don’t know what hit you as you’re taking it in. When the Annuals (minus Anna) came out during “Where Have You Been”, it was pretty much the best organized chaos you would ever want to see on stage. For their last song, everyone besides Andy left the stage. Andy sang a song by himself and was completely so raw it was almost uncomfortable. He just put himself out there and it was completely amazing.
Okay, in case you missed these earlier, grab the tunes, you won’t regret it. And make sure you see these bands the next time they roll into town. You’ll be won over, I promise.
Annuals covering Manchester Orchestra’s “Where Have You Been”
Manchester Orchestra covering Annuals’ “Brother”
Annuals - Brother
