Built to Spill

Orb opened with a very Sabbath-influenced, playful heavy retro set. Ben Salter was a much better stylistic match, his passionate tenor supported by a tight and animated backing group enjoying their time warming the stage for Doug Martsch and his merry band of Idaho dad rockers. The venue was near full but not uncomfortable and the crowd clearly excited to see the headliner. Some excited youngsters staked out the front row early, a nice change of pace from the normally rather grey-haired audience. The sound was superb (their stage volume was quite low, and I noticed in-ear monitors on Doug for the first time). Set was a bit light on the oldest stuff (no songs from Ultimate Alternative Waivers) and favored the cutesy pop ditties (Time Trap, Liar, Joyride, Big Dipper) over the angstier epics (Goin' Against Your Mind was the only lengthy jam). The encore choices were rather standard for any fans who had seen the band in the past few years (Car, How Soon Is Now, and Don't Fear the Reaper). Often a new cover or as-yet-unreleased songs would show up in sets, sadly this was not the case this evening. The band was able to get setup behind a curtain, which spared the audience the meticulous level checks that often mar the start of a Built to Spill set. Also as is typical for the band over the last few years, Doug seemed aloof and introspective, and did not engage the audience aside from polite thanks and acknowledgement of Ben Salter (he forgot the name of "the other band." It was Orb, Doug). Overall a good vibe in the audience despite the antics of one particular bro determined to sing every song at the top of his lungs whilst frequently reminding his neighbors that when two bodies try to occupy the same space, the louder and more drunken one will normally win. A good concert, but could have benefited by a new song or cover choice.

Was lucky enough to have been "taken" to a Built to Spill concert before ever knowing who they were or listening to much of their stuff. I have to say, when I listened to some of their stuff in preparation of the show, I thought it was good, but didn't think much of it. The next night at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC, these guys totally conquered.
This is a band who's music is made to be performed live, and it takes seeing them to fully appreciate and start to love them. Since I saw built to spill a couple of months ago, I haven't gone more than 2 days without listening to them and air-jamming out like an idiot in my car or in my room or even around other people.
Another great aspect to their shows is they really know how to treat their fans, and will regularly play great covers, bring fans up onto stage, and even give away instruments for people to play in the last set!! When I saw them last they brought up 50 or so people onto the stage and as they were breaking down their song and dancing around, when Jim Roth handed my friend his guitar to play along. I mean come on!! When has that ever happened. I will never pass up the opportunity to see built to spill live. They are too good and too cool.

Indie rockers Built to Spill have been around for longer than most realise yet they use this two decade practice to their advantage by performing live shows of staggering ability and talent. Unfortunately they have not fared well commercially in the UK but their sound has amassed a large following who consistently turn up to their shows when they visit the capital.

Their last appearance was not an album promotion tour so the quintet had the opportunity to play fans a smorgasbord of their finest work reaching from all areas of their seven album strong discography. They begin with a track from their very first LP 'Ultimate Alternative Wavers' and to their delight there is a good number of the audience who know the lyrics and sing them back in force. The majority gets involved for 'Carry The Zero' with its immediate riffs and thumping percussion whilst Doug Martsch aggressively taps his foot in time with the music like he is suffering from a bout of fleas. By their encore they have been well and truly blown away by the British audience's interaction and enthusiasm and thank them with a cover of one of our most adored artists, The Smiths and 'How Soon Is Now?'.

Couple reasons why you should go see Built to Spill live:
1) They tour the US almost every year. I've seen 6 times in 5 years.
2) They're incredible
3) You're always in for one or two 15+ minutes jam
4) Surprising covers are almost guaranteed (I've had MIA's Paper Planes, The Clash's Train in Vain and Captain Beefheart).
5) 3) and 4) often get combined. Last year (at Slim's in SF) I witnessed a 20 minutes version of Cowgirl in the Sand, with the guitarists from the opening bands joining in from the bar and the merch table
6) Doug Martsch often hangs out in the audience during the opening band set If you're still not sure, go listen to their Live album. Or just check them out, they're usually pretty cheap shows.
I can't wait for #7 in August.

Saw Built to Spill at 1884 Lounge located within Minglewood Hall plaza. Kind of a triangular room with the corner stage setup and a full-service bar off of one side. All in all excellent.
Built was only a three-piece that night. But the sound was amazing and they were definitely into the show. Doug was jammin on the guitar like he meant it. Played songs from variety of albums but most were from latest one, Untethered Moon. I've seen BTS a few times now and I've listened to them for a long time, they're getting slightly better as time goes on, in my opinion.

It's was awesome finally getting to see you guys live!! You've been both in my top 3 favorite bands and one of my biggest influences inn writting music for a little over a year now. The show was everything I expected and more! Plus it was pretty cool meeting Doug pretty much right after we got inside the venue. If Only I could have met all you guy!! Man!! Over all, the whole experience was incredibly inspiring! Thank you guys for doing what you do!! Who knows maybe we will end up playing a show together at some point. Keep up the good work!

Keep It Like A Secret's 20th anniversary London gig was great.
BTS played The Forum in Kentish Town on Friday 4th May 2019.
This wonderful band was let down by the poor acoustics in the venue (why don't the owners invest some ££ in improving that as it is a constant problem?).
They played the album in full and then more songs including a cover of the Kinks' Waterloo Sunset, maybe as a tribute to London.
When they return to London hopefully very soon, please avoid that venue.

First part of the concert was great. Great sound, the band played tight. After the encore was on the other hand not that good. Weird choices of songs (two covers?) and letting another band visit the stage and screen into a microphone that was drowned by all the other noises on the scen that make it impossible to hear. Besides that it was a great concert.

The band was amazing, and it was especially surreal to see them in such a small, intimate venue as the Irenic. They played several of my favorite songs, including Carry the Zero and Liar, and nailed every note (well, almost - Doug hit a few wrong notes and smirked when doing so). Can't wait to see them again!

Built to Spill itself was great and the venue was awesome, but I really did not care for the two opening acts. And And And was musically boring and lyrically predictable. Prism Bitch was just plain awful. Skip the opening acts if you plan on going--just my suggestion