Circa Survive at The Underworld
Circa Survive – The Underworld – 14 July 2010
Words by Brendan Monteiro / Photo’s by Eric Cannon
A sold out crowd awaits in the shadows patiently for Circa Survive, it’s not often that The Underworld is so full at these early hours and Halos take full advantage of the situation. It’s their international live debut and tonight they can pat themselves on the back, their set is so organic and their tones are mouthwatering. They remind me of a mix between Counterfeit, The American Dollar and Manchester Orchestra with an overwhelming emphasis of sounding real life. They turn out to be the most perfect opener anyone could ask for and I assure you they will not remain relatively unknown for too much longer. Musically they fit Circa Survive’s fan base like a glove, they ooze melody and have a cinematic feel to them that really tickles me. They finish off their set and leave me with the feeling that even if they don’t make it big they are going to bring some interesting aspects to the scene, this is a band you definitely have to keep an eye out for.
Circa Survive must be feeling very generous to London this year, last time they were out they played an intimate show at The Flowerpot and this time around it’s just as intimate. Anthony wastes no time getting in the front rows faces, his hazy form jolts around the stage as they employ Get Out as their opener. Anthony’s crazed antics are never far from a humble apology when he misguides a limb into the crowd and it’s this that really sets him apart from most frontmen. He puts on an incredible show, wearing his heart on his sleeve and releasing every ounce of himself into the performance. His vocals are out of this world and the haunting feel captured on record is really prominent tonight. The eerie effects in the instrumentation add even more dimension to Anthony’s vocals. Honestly he just commands attention from start to finish, he has this spell over everyone as he conducts audio bliss from his band, he’s somewhat of a spectacle on his own.
As for Circa Survive’s music, it is not heavy in the sense of brutality but live tonight they bring the songs forward in a heavy manner, the hooks are hard hitting and the spirited and the whole feel of it is just something else. The have the right balance of emotion and angst and funnel it out superbly. Get Out is the first of 4 new songs to be played to this crowd, they all go down just as well as old classics like The Difference Between Medicine and Poison Is in the Dose and The Greatest Lie.
There is normally a price to pay for intimacy, namely sound, but tonight Circa Survive couldn’t sound any better and and sonically tonight rivals some of the best sound I have heard out of the underworld. They save the best for last and end off the night with an encore of In Fear and Faith and Imaginary Enemy and send everyone home a little sweatier, a little smellier and definitely a lot happier.
Setlist:
Get Out
Glass Arrows
Mandala
Oh, Hello
The Great Golden Baby
Through the Desert Alone
The Greatest Lie
Stop the Fuckin’ Car
Semi Constructive Criticism
I Felt Free
On Letting Go
The Difference Between Medicine and Poison Is in the Dose
House Of Leaves
Encore:
In Fear and Faith
Imaginary Enemy
