Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbell live in Athens December 2010

I first noticed this duo the previous time they had come to Athens. I had gone to another gig at Gagarin back then and I noticed the promo clip playing for the Lanegan / Campbell appearance on the video screens of the venue. What caught my attention was one of the songs featured in the clip. One that went "I'm always looking for the sun". This was actually called "Falling From Grace" and it was from one of Isobel Campbell's projects called The Gentle Waves. I didn't manage to go to the gig at that time, but I decided that the next time they came to Athens, I would attend. And finally that time had come in December 2010.
Support was provided by Greek band Tango With Lions whose song "In A Bar" was quite popular at that time.

 

 

And then it was time for the main act. Although it wasn't quite what I had expected, the truth is I've loved it. Several of my friends had also come and opinions were varying. Some people thought it was boring. The thing is, I've always liked this type of music. Meaning those really slow, soft songs with the almost "ethereal" female vocals. The closest example that comes to my mind is Mazzy Star, from the mid 90's. What must be noted, however, was that this project was a personal one of Campbell's. She had written the songs, and she had also produced their latest album "HAWK". As one of my friends remarked "we came here to see the son of Tom Waits and we got Belle And Sebastian instead. This woman has really mellowed him out". (Isobel Campbell had been a member of Belle And Sebastian in the past). That remark made me want to see Lanegan live by himself and less than 18 months later, I would also get that chance. 

 

 

At the merchandise stand I found a selection of live CD's self-released by Mark Lanegan and I bought one of a gig with Isobel Campbell. 

I would finally get to see Mark Lanegan live by himself 16 months later, Sadly, he is no longer with us...

SETLIST:
01. We Die And See Beauty Reign
02. You Won't Let Me Down Again
03. Come Undone
04. Snake Song
05. Who Built The Road
06. Free To Walk
07. Honey Child What Can I Do?
08. The Circus Is Leaving Town
09. To Hell And Back Again
10. Saturday's Gone
11. Back Burner
12. Time Of The Season
13. Something To Believe
14. Salvation
15. Come On Over (Turn Me On)
16. Get Behind Me
Encore:
17. Revolver
18. (Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me?
19. Ramblin' Man
20. Wedding Dress

How I learned to stop worrying and love Still Corners

 

I had never heard of Still Corners before until last October when they played a gig in Athens. And it was my girlfriend who asked me to go with her to see them. So I did something I do not usually do: I checked out some of their songs on YouTube. (I'm used to discovering my music the old-fashioned way: Buying records and stuff I hear on the radio). That's when I realized that they fall into a category which I adore: "Heavenly Female Vocals" which first bring to mind Mazzy Star. The same thing that came to my mind at the Isobel Campbell with Mark Lanegan gig. And all this coupled with a synth sound (but not completely electronic, and as a result several fans of "real" music have also fallen under their spell). However it was electronic enough for me to remind me a bit of the things I love about Marsheaux.

The gig was in a small underground venue (I mean literally underground as it was in a basement) in the center of Athens. Greek band Spectralfire were on first

 

And then it was time for Still Corners fronted by the lovely Tessa...

 

 After the gig, Tessa was tending the merchandise stand herself. I nought thir records and Tessa was kind enough to sign one of them (the special coloured vinyl one) for me!

Πήγαμε να δούμε τον γιο του Tom Waits και τελικά είδαμε τους Belle & Sebastian

Αυτή ήταν η ετυμηγορία μιας φίλης μου για τη συναυλία του Mark Lanegan και της Isobel Campbell στο Gagarin. "Τον ευνούχισε τον Mark αυτή η κοπέλα. Από ζάχαρη τον έκανε Canderel."

Η αλήθεια είναι ότι είχαμε πάει μεγάλη παρέα εκεί και οι απόψεις ήταν αντικρουόμενες. Πολύς κόσμος τη βρήκε βαρετή τη συναυλία. Εγώ, θα το ομολογήσω, παρόλο που δενήμουνα σίγουρος από πριν για το τι ακριβώς θα ακούσω, τρελλαίνομαι γι αυτή τη συγκεκριμένη μουσική. Αυτά δηλαδή τα εντελώς απαλά κομμάτια με τα σχεδόν "αιθέρια" (αν μπορεί να τα χαρακτηρίσει κανείς έτσι) γυναικεία φωνητικά. Το πιο αντιπροσωπευτικό παράδειγμα που μου'ρχεται στο μυαλό είναι οι Mazzy Star, από τα μέσα των 90's. Η φίλη μου βέβαια ήθελε να ακούσει "μπλουζιές" όπως μου είπε. Εννοούσε πραγματικά blues (όσο πραγματικά blues θα μπορούσε να παίξει ένας λευκός που θα'λεγε και η ephee), και όχι τέλος πάντων εκείνα τα slow κομμάτια (πχ Dreams Are My Reality) που οι σημερινοί 40ρηδες χόρευαν στα πάρτυ της δεκαετίας του '80 και τα έλεγαν "μπλουζ". Εμ, βέβαια τι να περιμένεις από ανθρώπους που στα λευκώματα τους έγραφαν ότι "αγαπημένος τους ηθοποιός είναι ο James Bond" (εννοούσαν βέβαια τον Roger Moore). Όχι πως τα θυμούνται αυτά τα πάρτυ βέβαια, μια και τώρα η ζωή τους περιστρέφεται γύρω από το τρίπτυχο "Οικογένεια, Καρριέρα, SUV"
(Εμβόλιμο κράξιμο τέλος, παμ'παρακάτω)

Αυτό στο οποίο θέλω να καταλήξω είναι ότι ουσιαστικά αυτό το project, είναι προσωπικό της Campbell. Αυτή έχει γράψει τα κομμάτια, αυτή έχει κάνει και τη παραγωγή στον τελευταίο τους κοινό δίσκο το "HAWK". Όσοι νοσταλγούν τον αυθεντικό Lanegan, μάλλον θα πρέπει να περιμένουν μέχρι να κάνει περιοδεία μόνος του.

Τέλος, ένα ακόμα συμπέρασμα των τελευταίων χρόνων. Δεκέμβριος χωρίς Gagarin γίνεται; Δεν γίνεται...

Επίσης: Συναυλία με εισητήριο κάτω από 30 Ευρώ. Αυτό είχα καιρό να το δω!