Tune-Yards
-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER-
“I don’t think I’m a Goth, I like pastel shades too much…and GAP tops. I do like Depeche Mode though. Does that count?” These musings came from me, bored at work, before the Tune-Yards gig last Friday.
I love Tune-Yards. Their music is spiritual without being annoying and anthemic, without being cheesy. Judging by the video for ‘Heart Attack’, the third single off their new album, I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life, Tune-Yards aren’t Goths either, they had my back.
Imagine my surprise then when I arrive at the Albert Hall to see the stage drenched in black and lead singer, Merrill Garbus is wearing, well, all black. I also was surprised to see Tune Yards has only three band members: drummer and bass player and Merrill Garbus on ukulele. The show has the low key vibe of a solo-artist indie gig. As wonderful as Merrill is, I expected the focus to be less on her and more lights, more colour, more dancing and more pizzazz.
However, as the night wears on, it is hard not to feel uplifted – the songs are clearly well-known as they are sung at full pelt by the crowd that are well represented by infatuated women. Merrill Garbus seems genuinely touched by the crowd singing her lyrics in Manchester, which she describes as “a beautiful city”. In the surroundings of the Albert Hall, along with the willing crowd, it was easy to see why she thought this.
Luckily, there is an encore and she saves the best till last: ‘Heart-Attack’, a beautiful song, a homage to hope and positivity, which had my eyes closed and arms aloft. I didn’t lose my soul, my soul is saved and I’m not a Goth yet, phew.
Tune-Yards: Official | Facebook | Twitter
When people ask me what music I am in to, I find it very hard to give a definitive answer because, throughout my life I have been in to all kinds of music from House to Heavy Metal. So I can safely say I am open to most things however, I would say that overall my allegiances lie with Electronic music because it covers so many genres and is constantly developing and changing. Having grown up in Manchester my musical tastes have been influenced by nights such as Electric Chair and Mr Scruff which encompasses the sounds of House, Detroit Techno, Disco, Soul, Funk and Hip Hop. As far as bands are concerned, I particularly like bands that are melodic and have a hook and a heart such as Wild Beasts. While living in London in the early noughties, I was also listening to music that didn’t really have a heart, more of a pacemaker. I was listening to Electroclash at nights such as Erol Alkan’s, Trash. I love writing about music and believe you can be honest about why you don’t like something without being disrespectful, a skill I am still learning in real life! But ultimately I understand that music needs to be experienced first, rather than intellectualised but why do one, when you can do both?
