"Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them" is an apt title, not only for Murder By Death's sophomore record, but also for its live set.
Last Thursday night's show at the Black Cat was opened by Laguardia, a Philadelphia band that cuts chops similar in sound to Radiohead's "The Bends." Laguardia pulled off a very textured and layered sound live. The epic qualities of its songs felt as if they could grasp a stadium of rugby shirts by the striped collar and keep it lifted as long as they liked. The band is touring with Murder By Death in support of its freshman Universal Records release, "Welcome To The Middle."
After the surprisingly beautiful and captivating set by Laguardia, Murder By Death took the stage. Beyond a standard four-piece rock group, MBD integrates keyboards, organs, electronics and, most notably, a cello into its music, creating a vast landscape of sounds that offer something for almost all ears. Though the live set was very short and focused almost entirely on "Who Will Survive...," barely touching upon "Like The Exorcist But More Breakdancing," MBD did not disappoint.
As soon as lead singer Adam Turla belted out the first stanza of "Devil In Mexico," the crowd scurried to get closer to the stage and absorb the band's complex sound. Unfortunately, as the show progressed, the songs from "Who Will Survive...," which tells a story of sorts, began to sink away from the initial exuberance shown at the beginning of the set. Thus, tracks including "Three Men Hangin'" did not feel as strong as they do on record. Thankfully, the same cannot be said for the set's outro.
Instead of falling into the tired feel of the middle of the set, MBD threw together a closer that would impress even Mogwai, lacing together instrumental segments from both of its records and creating an ear-rattling wall of sound that soared beyond all expectations. Ending where the first record began, MBD, though slow in the midst of its set, left a high mark with expectations of greater things to come.
