Some Quick Notes on The Guillemots
I’m so surprised more people haven’t commented on The Guillemots post I wrote a few days ago. Seriously–it was a magical show. Although even when I was there I was totally shocked that the show wasn’t sold out because the band was so strong live.
Some highlights:
- The Guillemots made their grand entrance by coming through the back of the venue and walking through the crowd smashing cymbals and playing brass.
- Lead singer Fyfe Dangerfield doing a subtle strip tease throughout the show, first taking off his newsboy cap, then jacket, then sanity.
- Fyfe walking off the stage, coming into the audience and yelling at himself after he totally blanked on the words/music to a song.
- Me swing dancing with Sarah during “Trains to Brazil”
- Fyfe making us grunt like a bunch of cavemen
- Fyfe doing a song solo during the encore: Just his amazing voice, a tiny keyboard, and the tapping of his feet. The audience was DEAD SILENT.
- The Noisettes coming onstage to help out with percussion.
I’m usually not a sucker for cheery, jangly pop (yeah that’s right Mystery Jets), but the Guillemots are so infectious and delightful you cannot help but fall in love with them. And if the music doesn’t work, the dynamic (and unpredictable) stage presence of lead singer Fyfe Dangerfield will definately win you over.
1. Amrit | 7:56 am on May 12th, 2006
Totally agree. I think that their material is uneven, but the stuff that works is incredible. And they are just fantastic live.
2. sara | 8:38 am on May 12th, 2006
i saw them at the vice outdoor stage at sxsw, and they were just horrible, so i’d written them off. maybe i’ll reconsider?
3. scriptgrrl | 8:49 am on May 12th, 2006
Saw them last night in Los Angeles. Fyfe is immensely watchable. And what a voice!
4. Emily | 11:29 am on May 12th, 2006
Thanx Laura, I had been doing such a good job of saving my money and now you make me ruin it and go buy another cd!
5. Sally | 2:50 pm on May 12th, 2006
Laura, any thoughts on the opening band, LEVY?
6. Vanike | 4:48 pm on May 12th, 2006
I’m soooo jealous you guys got to watch them… I live all the way down in Brazil (São Paulo) and only in my wildest dreams I can imagine watching them live. Just a great band I currently can`t get enough!
But what about Levy? I was in NY last November and missed a chance of watching them! I deeply regret it! How was it?
7. rachel | 5:53 pm on May 13th, 2006
i wanted to go! so bad!
damn graduation went and got in the way.
8. The Modern Age » Guillemots Cover The Streets | 12:54 am on June 5th, 2006
[...] If you remember, I was totally bowled over when I saw the Guillemots at Bowery Ballroom in May. I am dead serious when I say that this band is amazing live. Start keeping tabs on when and where they are playing because you have to see it to believe it. [...]
9. Anonymous | 1:26 pm on June 7th, 2006
They sound sterile on their albums — live they are incredible. Saw them a handful of times, incl. at a minature club in Brixton, where Fyfe was clearly well lubricated.
10. zeedles | 1:35 pm on November 6th, 2006
Saw Guillemots play AGAIN last week at the Astoria. They were amazing- no surprise there. Seen them about 5 times now and each show has been different- they haven’t lost their knack for being musically spontaneous AND being good at it. MC Lord Magrao was just bursting with energy as was Fyfe… I want to see more!
11. The Modern Age » The Modern Age’s Top 10 Albums of 2006 | 11:51 pm on December 27th, 2006
[...] 8: Through the Windowpane, Guillemots I’m not sure what prompted me to go down to see Guillemots at the Bowery Ballroom on May 9th despite some impending death cold. I’d never heard one of their songs, and I’m not entirely sure how I heard about them in the first place. But all I know is that once I got a listen to the eccentric, ecelctic music of the multi-national quartet (members hail from England, Scotland, Canada, and Brazil), I instantly fell in love. [...]
12. Kimmy | 7:48 am on February 8th, 2007
Love the Guillemots, love Fyfe, fantastic live,,,,
LOVE THEM
13. Gabriela Azpeitia!! | 9:25 pm on April 27th, 2007
Oh my gOd there are the best baNd that i Have listeneD in my fuckIn lifE!! I lobyu bOys!!