Mark Lanegan at The Academy on March 7th 2012
Review: James Hunter
Photos: Alessio Michelini
Mark Lanegan, one of music’s most iconic voices, took to the stage of a sold-out Academy last Wednesday evening for what would prove to be a wholly educational experience. His presence, voice and songwriting showcase his immense talents and the occupants of the Academy were all too aware of it.
Known best perhaps, for his work with Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age, Lanegan’s more recent material often gets overlooked. Well, by the mainstream a least. In truth, his music is one of fragility and by placing his enigmatic voice at centre-stage at one of his own shows means he can really shine. The show started surprisingly early, with Lanegan himself taking the stage at 9 pm, shortly after his backing group had finished their warm-up set.
One thing that struck this concertgoer is Lanegan’s stature. He is immensely tall. Clad all in black he looms at the front of the stage like a giant, preparing to impart his wisdom upon the listeners. Aside from the gritty, whispered singing that makes up his set, he barely speaks a word to the crowd. We’re five songs in before we hear a word unaccompanied by music, and even then, it’s just a murmured ‘Thank You’. This is not a criticism. In fact, his silence only serves to make the interaction with the crowd more powerful. It’s all about a mood.
At a casual listen it seems like his voice suits more mellow tracks, as his past repertoire will show. The few upbeat track scattered throughout the set will show you that his incredibly distinctive voice has an impressive range; from the alt-blues standards, to more progressive electro-rock. At times his voice seemed lost in the mix of the venue, hiding behind the guitar, drums and scattered electronics. This was unfortunate but seldom, and always rectified. It must be mentioned that Lanegan is one of the world’s most unique voices, up there with James Morrison and Tom Waits. It oozes Southern American charm that is the embodiment of the blues ethos; low, downtrodden, gritty and faintly sad.
This show was an experience: a master class of performance from one of music’s most intriguing artists. As Lanegan quietly left the stage at the end of the night, we were left wanting more. Here’s hoping that ‘more’ isn’t too far off.
Mark Lanegan Photos Gallery
Photos: Alessio Michelini
