I saw Swans!
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2013
- I caught Swans at the Music Hall of Williamsburg this past Thursday, and this is a description of my experience. Here's what was played according to setlist.fm:
To Be Kind
Mother of the World / Screen Shot
Coward
She Loves Us
The Seer / Toussaint Louverture song / Oxygen
Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?
When I saw Swans, I was right up front without earplugs. I seriously thought I lost my hearing and had to take a break outside for a few minutes. I told Gira after the show that this was probably the loudest experience of my life, and he said, "It's loud, but there's a lot of sounds in there"
and he said? Thanks.
"there's a lot of sounds in there"
*literally yells EH at 130db*
And I saw Ducks!
And I saw Pidgeons!
I saw Mallards!
And I saw Seagulls!
I saw a swan rape a duck once.
I've seen footage
he's mentioning To Be Kind over a year before it came out. Awesome.
TG Swans plays a lot of new stuff live, most of their To Be Kind tour's setlist is mostly new stuff that hasn't been put on record yet
THEY INVITED ME!
@Vipul Konnur I too want to know
We don't give a fuck Tony
I'm seeing Swans in an hour and I'm excited/terrified.
Loud
Curtis Young Was it good?
Yes.
+Curtis Young lmfao. your short, blunt answers definitely imply that you went to the show and got mind-fucked.
drools
For me, it was Sunn O))) in NYC at the Masonic Temple. Because it was in NYC, they pulled out ALL of their equipment, amps, cabinets. It was fucking insane. I was right in front and my glasses were shaking on my fucking face.
I made the mistake of not wearing earplugs when I saw them in 2010. I couldn't stand for a day.
Grinder Man ok but you’re talking about it very loudly
Would love more live reviews.
You were directly next to me when I saw Swans at Toad's in CT. I recorded a lot of that set on my dslr. Youre unintentionally in a bunch of it.
Toads is legendary. I saw Iggy there in 94. Good shit.
Remember to wear your earplugs kids!
Don't do it. Get the full experience.
For real tho, i couldn't hear any highs with earplugs, drums were pretty non existant, and vocals felt washed out, i was freaking angry until i pulled them out at the middle of the show and had the time of my fucking life. I could have made mistake by buying them in pharmacy, maybe the shittyer they are the less sound they block, idk..
Paulyskas, check out etymotic earplugs. they're made for concerts and they don't distort the sound
Thank you, ill check them out
I may have lost a little of my hearing sensitivity when I saw Swans in Buenos Aires in late 2016, yes, but enduring that constant barrage of sound and letting it become my new reality was one of the most profoundly spiritual experiences I've ever had. A masochistic mystical accord indeed.
I've seen them twice. Once a in may 2011 and then last year, also in May. Both times really loud but last year's was extreme, very physical, and I was standing right the same spot I was in 2011, a couple feet away from stage. It lasted almost three hours (or so it seemed) and by the end I was drained, physically and mentally. It was during a festival and the beer I drank after the show was the best, most tasty, fucking beer I had the whole year.
Same. I remember seeing them in Buenos Aires in 2016 and me and my friend just waddled off from the venue - we didn't even stay to greet Gira, which I was really excited about - in a total daze, our shoulders slumped with defeat. We ended up sitting on a small step by a shop's metal shutter, not saying a word for at least ten minutes. When we finally went for a pizza and a beer our conversation consisted mostly of dumbfounded gazes.
Did you see to be kind or other recent albums live
SWANS:WORST TO BEST
SWANS:WORST TO BEST
SWANS: WORST TO BEST
SWANS: WORST TO BEST
I just saw them a couple of days ago. It's fucking incredible. My legs didn't work and I couldn't stop laughing afterwards. I got to shake Gira's hand as well, plus got the vinyl of to be kind signed by him
"There are millions and millions of stars..." after finishing To Be Kind and hearing the song that those words come from, I'm a bit worried about seeing them Tuesday.
Looking at the set list...only 2 songs form The Seer...the rest from To Be Kind (released 16 months after this show) I love this...not many bands do this...or can do this...they are always moving forward
Well yeah but their sets are only 6 songs long
Swans Ha! That's nothing, the other day I saw Swans, Ducks and geese and even saw a fish!
Stfu butters
haven't made my list yet, but when i do, i'll be making a video. :-)
Went 7 years ago to see them in a small venue. Wore earplugs and it still gave me tinnitus! Every time the band hit an accent it literally felt like someone punched me in the chest...simply amazing event. I have to wonder how those guys have any sense of hearing now.
Saw them hundreds of years ago at the rat in Boston when they were filthy loud and damaged. That show hurt my chest. Then again in Austin prolly 96, met Michael through his sound man at liberty lunch.he was nice, quiet, friendly.they were quite musical and yet still strong. Thank you Swans.
i feel the show's loudness and room temperature are catalyst along with other things where the effect is best witnessed when one doesn't think, but only feels. Like that short moment you closed your eyes. I don't believe Gira's actions on stage are necessarily to be cool or something rehearsed or premeditated, but rather just movements that come with being the center of this force.
i'll be trying to do as many as possible. i also mentioned yellow loveless in a quickie segment. :-)
I saw Swans too.Even have a signed copy of The Great Annihilator by Michael Gira..That band was AWESOME !!
Just watched their show this Monday in Moscow. It was LOUD - for about 1 day after I had a little annoying noise in my ears, but surprisingly during the show you just get adjusted to it and actually enjoy the loudness (no earplugs for me). But ears is one thing, the other thing is that you basically feel the sound with your body, with our internal organs, with your hair - the bass, the drums pummeling. Their music live is so physical - you don’t just hear the sound - you feel it.
Caught them last week in London after missing their previous show here (huge mistake), I feel lucky to have caught them at this stage of their musical sound. Little Annie and Thurston Moore (who also kicked ass) supported them before, and Swans played a 2 1/2 hour set that consisted of 5 songs. Physically drained is EXACTLY the word, but almost a spiritual experience. Earplugs are suggested but I legitimately enjoyed the cacophonous moments more by taking them out. The sheer volume of the experience adds to the overall experience in a way that can't be put into words. Draining, uncomfortable, mantric, and worth it - basically, the underlying ethos I see in their latest studio output, coalesced into the live performance. The opener, 'The Knot', is a live-exclusive that essentially summarises Swans' entire sound into ~40 minutes of assault and wonder, and is one of the most incredible tracks I've heard from them.
Wow Little Annie, that's one hell of a treat. Soul Possession is one of my favorite records of all time. I have a lot of admiration for her and the whole community she and Swans come from.
I'm saving up what little I get to see these guys in September. You have NO idea how excited this makes me.
I'm going to the 9/11 show at the Roxy. I'm already freaking out, so excited. Bring ear plugs bud.
I've been lucky enough to see Swans on numerous occasions! Never let a chance to see them get by you if you can as it's a pretty rare event. I think the BEST Swans show ever was actually when they were in the Angels of Light phase, back around 2000, I think. They we're playing in Tucson at the Hotel Congress, which at the time was still a pretty small venue. They were so tight that night. They practically overflowed the stage with all of their gear. Nuance was everything with AOL.
Saw Swans live in Liverpool and Manchester during Children of God loud and amazing. Great review btw.
I saw Swans in August last year here in Berlin. I listened to some of their studio stuff before, and I liked it, but most of the time they don't really fit into how I perceive and enjoy music. Still, I knew I had to experience a live show from them. I was not disappointed. It was one of the best show I'd ever seen, despite not being too familiar with their music. They're going to come here again this year and I'll defnitetely be there.
OMFG I saw Swans last night in Montreal. TOTALLY BLEW MY FFFFFFFF SOCKS OFF. Those start stop tracks, at that volume, with that gear. Like Oxygen. Unbelievable. Really amazing experience.
Cool story Anthony but I don’t think you going to the park and seeing some birds is really relevant to channel
Saw them last night, and it was unbelievable. Unlike anything I've ever seen.
+ theneedeledrop You made a great description of what one can experience at a Swans gig.With all those details about Michael Gira and band mates behavior on stage, their weird synergy and surrender to the flow of the track, with the hilarious sounscapes :)...
My experience includes something quite unexpected on a emotional level that cannot be accurately described with words.With the sound level being so intense and aggressive at the end of the show something different happen : I had a sense of deep peace and connection with a what I felt like a indestructible part of me.Something similar to meditation.I went prepared for a extreme experience and got something quite different in the end.I guess it had something to do with the experimental approach that the band has on any other show, something unique and in the moment that they are trying to convey every time.To some it up, it was one of the best - or at least cathartic - experience that I had at a show.Any show.
You are doing a great service to the band.Congrats!
I saw swans...up on the banks.
Could never have the energy to do a whole tour of that. Night after night
Saw them yesterday for the first time in Montreal. First row, no earplugs, for more than two hours. My ears are still buzzing and I'm not sure when it'll go away, but damn. It was worth every second of it.
From having done the same thing yesterday, it takes about 24 hours.
I saw Swans on this most recent tour, before I'd actually heard The Seer. Was deaf in my right ear for three days. One of the best concerts I've ever been to.
I got a photo with M Gira at a show. It felt kind of juvenile but whatever, hes a super genius.
How is that juvenile!?! Thats awesome
Hopefully seeing them in May
I just saw them live last night. Two hour set, absurdly loud, never seen a show quite like it. Wouldn't have pegged Gira for being 70 based on how hard the band goes.
Going to see them tonight in Budapest. First time, even though I've been a fan for 20 years. Very excited.
gotta see them for the first time in may...pretty excited...especially for the live live volumes which are rumored to be be pretty intense :D
I'll see them tomorrow night... very excited!
Saw them back in october. Absolutely breathtaking. Pretty much everyone was standing with their mouths ajar.
I saw Swans live a year ago. So amazing.
Anthony- Loved this show. Wish I had known you were there (although I had a hunch it was one you would be scoping out)!
Especially loved Gira's "throat-slicing-off-with-their-heads-action-speaking-in-tongues" passage about 2/3 of the way through "The Seer". It was definitely the loudest show I've ever been to, but I haven't had the privilege of seeing Sunn 0))) like yourself. 10/10 show in my opinion, a truly conscience-bending performance from one of the best live bands on the planet!
Will see them tomorrow and im pretty excited and a little scared. Neurosis was the loudest Band ive been to so far, curious if they will beat them in sheer volume
I saw them last year, i couldn''t believe this legendary band was playing near my hometown. OMG! to me this was the loudest thing i have ever seen, like your were saying the soft/loud dynamic is kind of exhausting. They were doing a lot of The Seer, but in a different way, loved it though. Afterwards M Gira was to be found near the merchandise stand (wearing the white cowboyhead), totally relaxed, so cool!!! Go see them if you can, and yeah bring earplugs.
I saw them in dallas and was really blown away. "Coward" was probably my favorite track they played, but I everything else was fantastic as well. Also, did not wear earplugs and it felt amazing.
seeing them tomorrow night. can't wait
i def wanna hear this, hope you make more live experience vids in the future, gonna catch Swans live in May :)
Wow this came at the perfect time! I'm still debating whether to go and see them by myself (none of my friends are into music that much, let alone Swans) in Bristol this April
Id love to see more in depth reviews of live shows and as a huge fan of live music Im surprised this isnt more common.
ticket to what?
yes, you're right!
Hmm... I'd love to go see them live but I'd also like to preserve my hearing. Do you think I'll get tinnitus even while earing earplugs?
Saw them this year for the first time too. AMAZING.
He did in fact change his mind, look up his list of best albums for 2012. Anthony, thanks for the earplugs advice, hopefully I'll get the chance to check it in Warsaw on March 16th :)
I saw them in London, great show!
In past shows they we known for being more atmospheric and intense- I have read commentary about how some seasoned metal head have said that it was very claustrophobic and the crowd reacted uniquely to that.
i saw them 2 months ago and thought it was one of the greatest live experiences in my life.
Can you do some more show reviews?
seeing swans in one hour
Paul Probst How was it?
it was awesome, one of the most immersive shows I've ever been to.
anna von hausswolff was supporting them, which was great on its own but the following 3+ hours of swans were something else.
definitely bring earplugs if you go seem them, it was LOUD
Paul Probst Saw the same show tonight in France, with Anna Von Hausswolff opening. Yes it was LOUD, yes it was AWESOME.
Funny, I saw them twice and I must say the best experience for me was when I did not were earplugs. Children of God tour.
That's always a problem for me. I already have tinitus, and I'm mostly wearing earplugs now. But with Swans, it's just not the same with earplugs. I want the full abuse :P It's just an amazing feeling when all your being is totally overwhelmed by this huge presense. One of my favorite live bands of all time. Seen them over a dozen times (unfortunately only got to know them with the release of the Seer)
*HUGS HUGS*
Congratulations! I'm going to visit Swans show on the 18th of March.
LOL, what am I supposed to do? Jump up and down while screaming my name?
yeah
Saw you Wednesday night and shook your hand. Thanks for being so cool!
Anthony (and everybody else), wanna know how I call the middle part of The Seer (the track)? Evil Empire. Because when I hear it... I see red lava lakes... slaves hitting rocks with hammers... guards whipping them really hard... Devilish Caesar overlooking from a badass throne... Insane, and I love it!
Seeing them in April. Can't wait
"The fact that you're just getting pummeled and pummeled and pummeled ..." Sounds fun to me. :)
One of the few times a band dies a medley and it's a good idea and works. Usually I loathe medleys and they usually suck. Hats off to Swans for pulling it off.
Nice, saw them somewhere last year for their "album" tour.
Fairly similair to what you described, also I'm guessing the stage right thing must a signature thing, cause I vaguely remember it too (Vaguely, because I wasn't exactly... sharp >.>)
Also thanks for the mention of the earplugs, people sometimes have a tendency to get pissy about them, but they're so important! (Though mine are work, audio tech in a little venue and I'd holy recommend getting some professional plugs, they be worth it)
I saw Swans last year and it was the most overwhelming musical experience I've ever been a part of.
i seen them at a manchester show last year, but done more songs from the seer (apostate and avatar) as well as some new ones. but it was certainly the loudest gig i've been to yet, there was a moment when thor brought out a clarinet (i think) out and it was almost deafening. maybe in a bigger setting you'd get more clarity between each member, but i overall enjoyed it alot. crowd was dancing alot too actually
happy birthday, this video
seein em may 17th in boston, i'll be bringing a box of earplugs for me, my pals, and anyone else i see bleeding from their ears
I was going to be at that show, stupid 18+ though.
I'm gonna be there too. Can't fucking wait!
It seems to me from what I have read the extremely loud aspect has always been part of their live show its confrontational. I have heard they were even more confrontational in the 80s gira would step on people's fingers if they were on the stage or they would shine really bright lights into the crowd. I guess Gira has mellowed out some.
Saw the live yesterday. Forgot my earplugs and didn't enjoy it as a result. Remember earplugs.
+Shelduck Holy shit are your ears alright dude?
+Shelduck Next time anybody's in that position, a decent, not perfect, method is to take small sections of clean paper towels, run them briefly under water, ring them out and use those as earplugs. It's way worse than having the real deal in terms of sound quality but it'll at least protect you. TP also works but is kinda gross to some people. Make sure you wash out your ears afterwards, and make sure you don't touch your eardrum.
Concerts like that will give you some serious damage, take it from me, I've played in far quieter bands without plugs and already have some slight damage at age 28.
Andrew Gleason I actually tried using paper towels which I think helped a bit, but some arsehole trying to impress his girlfriend took the piss out of me and I didn't have the confidence to do anything other than go red faced. Although maybe in 20 years time he'll remember me when he gets tinnitus.
Some people say that Swans have gotten softer over the years; I can't say I was around when they started or anything, but when I went to see them a couple of years ago, I had to leave the concert hall. I really, really thought I was going to die. Something with the bass and the loudness of it all just made me really feel like I was going to throw up, and I was kind of losing sense of whether or not my heart was beating at all. It was really trippy.
I probably woulda been OK dying then and there.
awsome review!!!! your great!
THANKS!
THANKS
WHAAAAAAAAAAA?
WHAAAAAAAAAAA?
WHAAAAAAAAAAA?
were you there?
no
Nope :(
also, nice review. that's how i imagine swans to be live for the most part. i imagine their set really depends on the venue they're playing, i've seen videos with all sorts of different set ups.
Oh man i remember when you made that video about the sunn0))) show you went to, you described it so amazingly well i almost felt myself standing there with you. I squealed a little when i saw this video in my subbox.
When I saw Swans in Buffalo, I actually met Thor Harris. He was one of the nicest, most humble people I've ever met. Really great guy.
Interesting take. I saw the Buffalo show last night (7.26.13) and could hear the subtleties and layers quite clearly. I thought a good half of the show was actually rather quiet and drone-y, but then again I was sitting upstairs and it did FEEL thicker and louder on the floor and early on I think Gira requested that everyone turn up.
And to know that I'll die without seeing them live...
Same i had the chance but i was dumb and didnt go because i had no one to go with me. One of my biggest regrets.
I didn't even get to miss a chance, since they've never played and never will in Brazil lol
Lucas Garibaldi 😖
I went to the final show at the Warsaw in Brooklyn and ate pierogis after the show in the attached cafeteria with Thor and chatted with him and Gira about Moondog, just saying to make you two feel worse.
i can see 'soundtracks for the blind' next to 'the seer'. what an incredible album!
I saw Swans in October last year and it was certainly the loudest concert I've ever been to. Actually, it was probably the loudest thing I've ever heard. I was a great show and I was beat up after it.
I saw them there on Wednesday! Totally incredible.
I saw them once in Vienna - they were amazing.
i loved it. me and my friend juan were in the very front center, and i thought the sound wasn't as much painful as it was entrancing.neither of us used earplugs and we both were able to enjoy ourselves. i will say it wasn't at all painful loud. Lightning Bolt was painful loud, A Place To Bury Strangers was absurdly painfully loud but i found swans to be just loud enough. it was great seing you there :3
I saw Swans twice. Once on the "My Father" tour and 2012 with The Seer. I can definately say the My Father tour was way more melodic and had bigger contrast in quiet/loud dynamics. Especially since he played a version of Little Mouth, wich started out as heavy and abruptly becoming quiet ballad-like. Played a 2 hour 30 mins set last time
The tour of My Father a friend of mine saw them at Incubate in Tilburg, they played a 3 hour set there, it was too much he said, though it wasn't THAT loudthen
I saw ducks
very cool
When I saw Swans they played so loud that I got ill/almost fainted. Loudest concert I've ever been to and my fav. band is A Place To Bury Strangers :P Also, the show almost lasted 3 hours.
do more of these! I love'em
I'm curious to know what you think about the Swans albums "White Light from the Mouth of Infinity" and "Love of Life". Those are easily my two favorite Swans albums, and while they are probably the most accessible records they've made (in my opinion), they are certainly a grim and depressing as most anything else. I think it's criminal that these albums have not been reissued along with the other earlier albums; do you know the reason for this tapes rights issue? I'd like to hear your insight.
You should do a video on bands you think this year's Coachella goers should check out at the festival!