Last night, Of Monsters and Men played a concert at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. I didn't have tickets. I stayed in, sat on my couch in my sweatpants, and simultaneously watched the Knicks and the Dodgers games while eating Indian food leftovers. A typical relaxing Thursday night in April.
Oh, I also was able to catch a good part of the Of Monsters and Men show.
How is this possible? Well, The Bowery Presents broadcasted the show live on youtube. They've done this for a lot of bands. Other companies have been doing this too. My favorite band, The National, broadcast a live show from the Beacon last year. I know a bunch of Phish shows were broadcast over the internet last year as well. I even had a few Phish-head friends that had "Couch Tour" parties.
I knew very little about Of Monsters and Men. They're a six piece indie folk rock band from Iceland. Most of the members play multiple instruments and the music is pleasant with a strong, lively energy. They reminded me a lot of Arcade Fire, but with more polished pop vocals. Their debut album, My Head is an Animal, was released on April 3rd of this year. It's an upbeat, joyous album that is perfect for spring/summer. I had only heard a few songs and I was curious to see how they would sound live and what kind of stage presence they had, so I welcomed the opportunity to watch them live online.
Watching the performance on my computer was cool, but it brought up conflicting emotions. While the technology that allows this type of accessibility is amazing and being able to watch a concert from the comfort of your own couch is awesome, clearly the majority of what I love about the concert experience is lost.
The experience of going to a concert is something that is almost sacred to me at this point. The energy from the stage and the crowd, the music that often reaches deafening volume, bumping into people while dancing, the smells and sights and lights, feeling the music within every bone, a frenzy of sound rattling through your body, all of that is transcendental. Of Monsters and Men definitely put on the type of show that exemplifies this notion perfectly, and it's all lost by watching it on the computer.
That's not say it's not enjoyable, it is, but it should never be mistaken as being the same or a suitable replacement. Yes, you save money, and yes, it's great for when you don't want to leave the house, but it needs to be seen as a distinctive, unconnected experience to the concert itself.
That's how I felt while watching the performance. I did like it very much, but there was nothing in the video to signify that I was watching a live show and not a recording. Clearly, I can't get to every single concert I want to see and I'll certainly take the opportunity to watch some of those concerts online when the option presents itself, and I'll be thankful it's possible. But the experience is akin to watching any other previously recorded concert video on youtube.
Ah, new technology and the conflicting emotions it brings. Oh well. Here's a clip of Of Monsters and Men performing their hit single "Little Talks" for KEXP:
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