The Church/The Afghan Whigs/Ed Harcourt – House Of Blues, Anaheim, CA 7/24
By Jeffrey Easton
Has it really been over 40 years since The Church broke into the scene with Of Skins And Heart? Over 4 decades and 20 plus releases, they are still touring the world, filling the halls wherever they go and the rabid fans still want to hear the new stuff. Personally, I feel they should have been massive, their records had so much to say and so many more should have listened. On the mantle of legend and importance, The Cure had Disintegration, The Church had Starfish. If you listen to Under The Milky Way and aren’t transported away like you are with Pictures Of You, you need to take another look at your soul.
Opening the night was the eloquent multi instrumentalist Ed Harcourt. I must admit that at the time I was unfamiliar with his output but by the last note I was sold. Eds’ passion and delivery through his set drove the crowd closer to the stage wanting more. He dove into his massive catalog of records but he just dropped a new one entitled El Magnifico which got the microscope. He Opened with 1987 from the new record solo behind his piano and it became abundantly clear why others have utilized his talents for their songwriting. His ability to spin words and melodies is beyond comparison but what got me and made me buy the new record was Into The Loving Arms Of Your Enemy. His pleading as he careened across the stage brought the words to life as if he was living the song in the moment. If you are not acquainted with the musical genius that is Ed Harcourt, now is the time.
The 80s were such a diverse decade, what decade can boast it hosted acts that sold millions as diverse as REM, Warrant and The Cure? SO add in more diversity known as The Afghan Whigs, debuting with Big Top Halloween and through the next several decades they have made their stamp on the music scene with their brash form of alternative. Every record brought something different to the scene as they grew bigger and their impression on future bands grew deeper. Fast forward to 2024 and the fire is still burning, the fans still turn out and the records are still dropping. How Do You Burn recently came out and they are still throwing Catch a Colt in the set list but to be still this creative this far in their career is a testament. The house lit up to Algiers, 66, My Enemy, Summers Kiss while some fan randomly yelled out how she saw them at the Weenie Roast 30 years ago. We may be getting older but the love for the band and the memories are still there.
The Church, here was my bucket list band. They have never disappointed me musically and I feel that they should have been way bigger than were. They have that musical gift so few bands possess as they are still releasing albums that fans want to hear, that are still as good as what was released in their formative years. They have dropped 2 records within the last 2 years and the response to the new stuff was just as good as the older material, that’s validation. They opened with Myrrh 1985s Heyday and as the lights strobed around the band, it made the track come to life. Still dipping back in time, they took Metropolis from the sublime Gold Afternoon Fix and gave it new life and their longtime fans that packed the Anaheim HOB roared their approval. They seriously have a solid catalog, Gold Afternoon Fix should have been huge as it was a great record. Coming to the present, one of their current records, The Hypnogogue, a great concept record, was given over to the fans with the title track, No other You, Flickering Lights and C’est La Vie. This is a great album and deserves your attention. Steven Kilbey went into great detail on the record, it’s a deep story and the music matches. As I stated before, The Cure had Disintegration, The Church had Starfish and it should be remembered as such. As soon as the first notes of Reptile came out of the amplifiers, the place came apart. I was standing in the back of the venue to take in the full atmosphere of the proceedings and I want to point the young Siouxsie look alike that full on dancing to this considering she wasn’t even born when this dropped. That’s discovering whats good and showing up. Under The Milky Way went over the same way, that ethereal in the moment feeling you can only have by being there and hearing it live. If you weren’t at one of these dates, you missed out on an amazing experience, The Church still has it, what a phenomenal band.
The Church Official Site
The Afghan Whigs Official Site
Ed Harcourt Official Site
By Jeffrey Easton
Has it really been over 40 years since The Church broke into the scene with Of Skins And Heart? Over 4 decades and 20 plus releases, they are still touring the world, filling the halls wherever they go and the rabid fans still want to hear the new stuff. Personally, I feel they should have been massive, their records had so much to say and so many more should have listened. On the mantle of legend and importance, The Cure had Disintegration, The Church had Starfish. If you listen to Under The Milky Way and aren’t transported away like you are with Pictures Of You, you need to take another look at your soul.
Opening the night was the eloquent multi instrumentalist Ed Harcourt. I must admit that at the time I was unfamiliar with his output but by the last note I was sold. Eds’ passion and delivery through his set drove the crowd closer to the stage wanting more. He dove into his massive catalog of records but he just dropped a new one entitled El Magnifico which got the microscope. He Opened with 1987 from the new record solo behind his piano and it became abundantly clear why others have utilized his talents for their songwriting. His ability to spin words and melodies is beyond comparison but what got me and made me buy the new record was Into The Loving Arms Of Your Enemy. His pleading as he careened across the stage brought the words to life as if he was living the song in the moment. If you are not acquainted with the musical genius that is Ed Harcourt, now is the time.
The 80s were such a diverse decade, what decade can boast it hosted acts that sold millions as diverse as REM, Warrant and The Cure? SO add in more diversity known as The Afghan Whigs, debuting with Big Top Halloween and through the next several decades they have made their stamp on the music scene with their brash form of alternative. Every record brought something different to the scene as they grew bigger and their impression on future bands grew deeper. Fast forward to 2024 and the fire is still burning, the fans still turn out and the records are still dropping. How Do You Burn recently came out and they are still throwing Catch a Colt in the set list but to be still this creative this far in their career is a testament. The house lit up to Algiers, 66, My Enemy, Summers Kiss while some fan randomly yelled out how she saw them at the Weenie Roast 30 years ago. We may be getting older but the love for the band and the memories are still there.
The Church, here was my bucket list band. They have never disappointed me musically and I feel that they should have been way bigger than were. They have that musical gift so few bands possess as they are still releasing albums that fans want to hear, that are still as good as what was released in their formative years. They have dropped 2 records within the last 2 years and the response to the new stuff was just as good as the older material, that’s validation. They opened with Myrrh 1985s Heyday and as the lights strobed around the band, it made the track come to life. Still dipping back in time, they took Metropolis from the sublime Gold Afternoon Fix and gave it new life and their longtime fans that packed the Anaheim HOB roared their approval. They seriously have a solid catalog, Gold Afternoon Fix should have been huge as it was a great record. Coming to the present, one of their current records, The Hypnogogue, a great concept record, was given over to the fans with the title track, No other You, Flickering Lights and C’est La Vie. This is a great album and deserves your attention. Steven Kilbey went into great detail on the record, it’s a deep story and the music matches. As I stated before, The Cure had Disintegration, The Church had Starfish and it should be remembered as such. As soon as the first notes of Reptile came out of the amplifiers, the place came apart. I was standing in the back of the venue to take in the full atmosphere of the proceedings and I want to point the young Siouxsie look alike that full on dancing to this considering she wasn’t even born when this dropped. That’s discovering whats good and showing up. Under The Milky Way went over the same way, that ethereal in the moment feeling you can only have by being there and hearing it live. If you weren’t at one of these dates, you missed out on an amazing experience, The Church still has it, what a phenomenal band.
The Church Official Site
The Afghan Whigs Official Site
Ed Harcourt Official Site
