Under the Iron Sea

Wednesday, I showed up for the rock show.

I missed the opening act but made it just in time to work my way near the stage while a Mary J. Blige record shook the walls of this intimate venue. I retrieved my new digital camera from my pocket to realize that I'd left the batteries at home. DRAT!

The lights dim and the intensity shifts in the room. The pianist/song-writer Mr. Rice-Oxley emerges from the back and the crowd erupts in cheers. The drummer also enters from the back and ascends his drum throne. Immediately, I noticed his nice 6-piece Yamaha kit with its plain, white exterior. I'm disappointed... until. Until, the first dissonate chord sounds from the electronic keyboard and the backlit stage turns green. The green light seems to drape the drums in green. To my suprise, throughout the show the drums change color with the back lighting. Awesome.

Even more suprising, I hear the piano start... the drums join in as does the bass, string section, and a host of other interesting sounds yet the only remaining figure to emerge from the darkness of the backstage is the lead singer adorned with NO instrument. That's when I notice the Powerbook laptop next to the keyboardist. The lead singer has an awesome range. In many parts of Keane's recordings Tom seems to go to falsetto, yet in concert it was clear that he could hit those notes just as well in full voice. Fun show! I can't get the songs from their latest cd out of my head now!