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Show review: Saul Williams @ La Tulipe
~ by Half-Baked
Last week, while Spring was making it's way to Montreal, I was making mine towards La Tulipe with Fake & Zimmy. It's 8 o'clock and the place is dispersed with a crowd of 20-something hipsters that don't all fit together. That's how I like it anyways. Around 8:30 the first act steps onto the stage. For the benefit of the review I'll name them as "Dragons of Zynth". The 4-man band (the bassist was a girl) starts off with what looks like a meditation prayer.
Awkwardness sets in the room with people standing 20 feet away from the stage. The first few minutes sum up in an effortless band with no stage presence. After a few songs, the band invites the crowd to move in a little by saying "we won't bite". I'm not so sure so I stay at distance. What followed were energy driven rock songs mixed with electronic sounds. Really hard to follow but heck, the people start having fun, the group starts to feel at ease on stage, the two singers switching off instruments like it was a game controller.
At one point, one of the singers picks up a carnival dragon head and starts wobbling with it. Cool and flashy. Look into it below the article.
The bassist was so erased at the left end of the stage while the drummer stole the show as long as I'm concerned. They end their set with an "encore" and leave without adding anything else. I mean, if it wasn't for my personal research beforehand, I wouldn't have ever known the group was named "Dragons of Zynth" and where they were from (New York). No mention of Saul Williams leading into their salutations.
SAUL WILLIAMS
Around 9:30 Saul Williams steps onto the stage all dressed-up and full of make-up with his musicians. The guitarist was dressed as a civilian while all other members of the band had some kind of costume. One member on keys, another on the percussions/MPC with Saul leading the way. He started off the show by bursting into flames jumping all around the stage and jumping off the sound columns and then falling. We're in for a great show. Never did the energy of Saul Williams, playing as Niggy Tardust, ever fall. He sometimes went into his more poetry-driven interludes to get his message across, the crowd was really digging it and Williams even went on the floor to sing a song with the crowd. He ended up his set with multiple encores, keeping the fantastic remake of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" for dessert.
I was aware of Saul's energy on disc but this exceeded every expectations I had. The band, especially the guy on the percussions, really add to the flavour of the show. You can still catch Saul Williams & Company on tour, don't hesitate!
Dragons of Zynth and some carnivalesque performance!
ps: Sorry for the poor quality of pictures/video. All I had was my camera phone but be reassured, I just bought myself a neat pocket camera that you will be able to benefit from my next show review!
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