Lift to Experience - Live Show June 6, 2000
(Ghetty's, Salt Lake City)
Ever since South by Southwest it seems everyone has
been talking about Lift to Experience. I've even
heard a rumor that Simon Raymonde was so impressed by
their SXSW set he called them "the future of music",
and that he and Robin Guthrie signed them to Bella
Union that night.
It seems inevitable that when there is a lot of hype
surrounding a band, I'm disappointed when I finally
hear them. So when I heard Lift to Experience would
be coming through Salt Lake on their current tour I
got excited to go but knew that I was probably
setting myself up for disappointment.
I'd heard comparisons from My Bloody Valentine to
Mogwai, so I found their attire and stage décor
unexpected and unique. The singer/guitarist had on a
cowboy hat, with the biggest lamb chop sideburns I've
ever seen escaping underneath it. There was a huge
Texas flag hanging behind them, and one draped over
the bass amp. There was also a cow skull placed on a
Leslie speaker at the front of the stage.
The band announced that they hail from Denton, Texas
(which they are obviously proud of), and then they
immediately created a wall of sound that seemed to
fill every square inch of space in the club. The soundscape
then began to move and take shape through weaving
guitar and bass melodies that peaked and then gave
way to a single guitar note being covered by longing
vocals, which then built back up to an intense and
beautiful soundscape. This pattern continued through
their forty five minute set that completely
engrossed me.
I know swirling guitars and, the whole loud/quiet
thing can seem really contrived and played, but Lift
to Experience were able to transcend that. They use
dynamics and instrumentation to surround you and draw
you into the mood that they create. One of the ways
that mood is created is though emotion-filled lyrics
that are full of gospel and cultural references.
I was in no way let down by the Lift to Experience
live show in Salt Lake. It was one of the best shows
I've seen this year. If you get the chance check them
out for yourself, they will be touring again this
fall in support of their debut full length CD
entitled The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads which will
be released on Bella Union (one of the rumors
surrounding their SXSW appearance is at least
partially true). Check
www.bellaunion.com for more
details. The album was recorded in Texas, and is
being mixed at September Sound, in London, by Robin
Guthrie. In the meantime they have a four-song ep
which is only available if you're lucky enough to catch
them live. However, two of the songs ("Falling From
Cloud 9" and "Liftin' on Up") can be downloaded at the
band's website.
The ep isn't a great representation of the power that their
live show has, but it is worth picking up if you catch a show.
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