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May 21, 2004
Not Much Dissection Here
I saw them a couple of nights ago at Liquid Joe's in SLC and it was really great. I'm having a tough time putting into words what it was like. The words the keep coming to my head are: hypnotic and ominous. Stupid words but they work in this context. Before they started there were all these cathedral bells getting louder. Then a bunch of Liverpudlian blokes dressed in scrubs and face masks walked through the crowd all business-like onto the stage and started into the show.
The singer was a very small man with a hole in his mask so he could sing. He also had this little keyboard instrument that he'd play by blowing through a tube attached to it--sounds kind of like a harmonica (anyone know what this is called? a philochord?). And those background falsetto vocals are from the bassist who is as big as the singer is small.
They are known for playing short sets--like 40 minutes. And true to form they played for 45 minutes. It has to do with leaving the crowd wanting more or something.
After the show I was talking to my friend Jody Cootie in front of the bar and after about a half an hour I saw Clinic walking out of their bus in their regular skids trying to sneak back into the bar inconspicuously. I made eye contact with a couple of them with a "Not so sneaky but I won't say anything to anybody" look in my eyes that they probably didn't understand or care about.
They really pull off the costume thing. I found the following on the internet:
Q: It adds to the mystery as well. Speaking of that, every picture I've seen of you guys you've been wearing masks. Where did the idea of the masks come from and why do you choose to wear them?
A: Very early on, I think we were really disillusioned with the egocentric nature of being in a band where there's this combination of different personalities who, almost like, stand up to the limelight. You go and see a band and you can cringe sometimes; there's sort of that "here comes the guitar solo, step into the spotlight." Please. It's more like breaking down the identity of the band into one giant glob rather than like, individual personalities. I think it's a great way of creating a bit of tension when you're watching a band play rather than that sort of individual … it almost distracts from the music when you're more interested in what the person's playing as an individual onstage.
Posted by jimweed at May 21, 2004 06:15 PM
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Comments
i would really like to see clinic. one thing about them that has made it hard for me: monotony. however, monotony is in the ear of the guy talking about monotony. if i take them two, three songs at a time, i get really excited and want more. maybe that's why they play that way. and maybe that's why they don't show their mouths.Posted by: chatlas at May 21, 2004 10:11 PM