Twenty-two is arguably one of the most overlooked of all birthdays, especially considering that it follows the infamous twenty-first, which is celebrated almost religiously within Western culture. The pressure to celebrate your twenty-first has become such a 'tradition' within our society that all other birthdays pale in comparison. So with this knowledge in mind, I was rather content to spend my twenty-second birthday going to my good friend Emma's twenty-first birthday, and then visit Al's Bar in order to be serenaded by the aural exploits of two incredible New Zealand examples of post rock - Mountaineater and Jakob.
After 'getting in touch with nature' and paying my $20 (which says something about the lack of awareness/support for non-mainstream music in this country) I found my way to the front of the expectant crowd, just in time to see Mountaineater. I was as excited to see them as I was to see Jakob. Having seen Mountaineater previously at GBM and on the local stage at this years Big Day Out, I knew I was in for a brutally heavy show. They did not disappoint. How three guys can produce such a ferocious wall of noise is beyond me. Each song is a beautiful assault, a mesmerizing journey that leaves you utterly exhausted, but in the most rewarding way. Mountaineater's frontman Tristan Dingemans, armed with an array of effects pedals and a menacing voice, personifies the raw power and passion of Mountaineater's sound. I am eagerly awaiting their forthcoming album, and I think it will be interesting to hear how they manage to reproduce the sheer force of their live set into recording environment. The only distraction from Mountaineater came in the form of drunken douchebag that felt the need to scream "WOOOOO" at every opportunity.It would have been hilarious, if he wasn't standing next to me the whole time. Despite his doucheiness, I have to thank him for providing me with the means to win a beer from Ayla, based on the ridiculous amount of times he yelled "WOOOOO".
A quick cigarette break allowed me to return to a state of excited anticipation about finally getting to experience Jakob live again. I hadn't seen them live since watching them open for Thrice in Auckland in 2007. A Jakob live show is an intense journey, with each song a meandering beast, a concentrated and deliberate attack on your senses. While Jakob haven't produced any new recordings since 2006's Solace, they played a wide variety of their discography, including my personal favorite 'The Collar Sets Well' from their first album Subsets of Sets. Watching Jakob live, it is easy to see why they have such a loyal following and why they remain New Zealand's premier representation of post rock. They are so tight, it is a joy to watch how each member compliments each other. While post rock can sometimes lack direction and focus, Jakob never stray off course, each moment building and exploding into a wall of noise. It was a shame that Al's Bar had to close at Midnight due to ANZAC day, as I'm sure Jakob would have extended their set, but even so, it was fully worth the money and effort, and I can't wait for them to come back to Christchurch.
I came away from the gig mentally and physically exhausted, but completely happy that I had spent my twenty-second birthday watching two of this countries best examples of post rock in fine form.
Check out the pics: http://www.alsbar.co.nz/galleries/gallery.php?gallery=g76 (Mountaineater)
And: http://www.alsbar.co.nz/galleries/gallery.php?gallery=g78 (Jakob)
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