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Live reviews
Louder than expected and therefor surpassing my expectations!
That she is a first class live singer I wished for. And she was - casually to the hype. She brought a band. The sound mix was fabulous, even though the "Café Glocksee" in Hannover doesn´t seem to be a place for that ... flat ceiling, annoying talkish-crowd around the bar, almost too hot inside...
Well skip the opening act "Dead Forest" or take the last 3 songs to get into the concert feeling, but its not that important I would say.
Chelsea said they were experiencing technical difficulties between her first 3 songs ... well what I heard was a 20 Minute wall of drone-sound that sucked me right into her mood of "Abyss" and went on until the end. So, really, thanks for that techy-problems!
You know, its like going to a concert and hoping that the sound is not below normal and than it is so fullfilling that you feel the bass in your lungs a bit repelling, and the noise is mixed so well that you are so comforting the pleasure of extra loudness of the bass drum in your guts.
So later on repeating this process between some old hits and mainly the new pieces, because her bass-player was especially there for, you notice that it is so good having a live drummer and I wish I could speak out anything more for that supportive woman on the Keys. But you know there was Chelsea on the stage and I give her the rest of my compliments. Yes she is a queen in what she is doing.
Thanks for stepping down to the fans at the merch after the long encore.
The Chelsea Wolfe show was nothing short of amazing. Her voice is as on point as it is on record, if not better. The show was heavy as Hell, and she has clearly succeeded with what she said was the purpose of her latest record, Abyss, to make heavier songs for better live show fodder. Of course, this wasn't the only or even primary purpose of Abyss, but I digress. She played a lot of Abyss stuff, some of my favorite songs from Abyss, but also some of my favorite songs from Pain Is Beauty. As I recall, she played only one song from her proper debut, Apokalypsis. Despite some technical difficulties in the middle of the show, Chelsea and her band really gave it their all here. There was very little stage banter, as Chelsea and her band prefer to set a moody atmosphere with ambient intervals, which were unfortunately ruined at times by obnoxious crowd members. Iron Moon, Carrion Flowers, Kings, Dragged Out, We Hit A Wall and Survive were some of my favorite performances of the night. And after leaving the stage, Chelsea and her band got back on and performed a magnificent encore. Considering how obnoxious certain audience members were, I'm not even sure we deserved one, but she was generous enough to give us one anyway. It made me think she was going to come to my dorm later to give a me a personal encore performance with an acoustic guitar. All in all, a fantastic show, probably in my top 3 shows, along with Iceage and Death Grips.
For those who yearn for the theatrics in music which are so often dismissed in live shows today, Chelsea Wolfe is the artist for you. Her music is described as doom folk, inspired by the somber state of the world and the connectivity we all share, she animates her depressed discography onstage and the results are mesmerising and chilling all at once.
The gloom is set as the lights are kept incredibly low and the stage is covered in smoke which settles like a morning fog, Chelsea and her band amble onto stage, not acknowledging the crowd but retreating into their musical zone before the moody chords of 'Movie Screen' begins. 'Feral Love' is particularly dramatic when brought to life, the disjointed notes that make up the sparse intro hang around like a shadow as Chelsea whispers into the mic and the air becomes cooler in the room. This new album 'Pain Is Beauty' sees a move in territory to the indie rock and it works really well onstage, the haunting productions translate really well and the almost hammer horror like style is incredibly exciting to watch.
The Natasha Khan style wailings on 'We Hit A Wall' resonate around the room and it feels like Chelsea is summoning dark spirits onstage, leaving the atmosphere pensive but electric. There's something about the band that can put the whole audience on edge in a similar way to if you were watching a horror film, you don't want to look yet you cannot look away.
I discovered Chelsea Wolfe thanks to a friend on Facebook. I have been into indie/post-punk/electro stuff since the 1980's and have a limited knowledge about the metal scene. I'm saying this because it seems that Chelsea Wolfe has mainly a metal fans following but she's so much more than this.
To me she has an obvious lineage with PJ Harvey /Patty Smith and brings on her own personality to her music. And which personality! This Lady is totally magnetic on stage, strong presence, strong awesome feminity without any sexy tricks, she is captivating the audience and the concert was like a black mass!
Her melancholic texts melts perfectly in her dark drone loud sound, ballads like Iron Moon or We hit a Wall gave me this freezing in the back that make you know you are into it!
I will see her live again any time I have a chance in the future.
Support band A Dead Forest Index did the perfect match and are totally in the "Dark indie" trend together with maybe The XX, 2:54, or Daughter and more
This is a powerful tour for Chelsea Wolfe to cover her latest album Abyss and it shows on stage with a more straightforward performance and LOUD! Chelsea is taking her band to another leap in their progression to add to the abilities already known. Didn't take notes(was absorbed by the performance) but here and there you could hear that some of the songs has been tweaked a bit to work in this 'tour da force' and one of the earlier tracks, I think it was House of Metal that's been given a bigger remoddeling which was awesome The future looks bright for Chelsea Wolfe!
Some words about the supporting band A Dead Forest Index from New Zealand, the duo Adam Sherry (Vocal/guitar) with drummer Sam Sherry performing a minimalistic moodfull collection of songs spreading a calm and enjoyful vibe for us watching the show with in my mind 2 standouts 'Distance' and 'Cast of lines' the duo fits nicely into the Sargent House family.
I look forward to my next chance to see them!
This will be the third or fourth time I've seen MS Wolfe and every experience increases my desire to see her again. Her stagecraft is amazing, her skill unquestionable and her ability to cast a spell over her fans is intoxicating. Not to say flamboyant, as she barely whispers when not singing and appears genuinely shy and humble among the adoration. It's cliche but she has an ethereal way about her, not just with her sad-angel voice....you have to see her to get it.
We got to sing her Happy Birthday, which was very fun.
I'll be in line for her next Tucson gig.
I love seeing Chelsea Wolfe live. This was my fourth time. It's almost like she puts me into a trance with her voice. I hate to say this, but I was slightly less captivated by her performance at this show, as she only played two older songs. I enjoy the newer albums, but she usually plays a really good mix of songs and changes up the tempos and moods of each song throughout the show. I don't want to make that a big deal because overall, I still love her so much!!
Absolutely incredible and mesmerizing. Lights and sound were fantastic. Perfect kid of heavy doom and bass with lighter melodies and her more ambient passages. Largely the new songs. Some older goodies thrown in. Her encore was great in and of itself. Very good note to end on. Not much speaking to the audience, if that is a point of interest
Flawless as always!!! such an incredible voice and atmosphere. Band are so tight!! Will see Chelsea Wolfe again and again. Such effort is put into every show ive been too, from sound effects and lighting. also the talent chelsea wolfe has controlling her voice and playing with is so admirable for a live set. sounds just like the record.
This was such an amazing show! I saw her down in Pasadena with The Cure and she blew my mind then (even with only 6 songs), but her performance last night was so achingly beautiful! I could listen to Chelsea for hours now. Stunning! Thank you so much for coming to Portland - cannot wait for your return! Absolutely loved it!