Tune Yards @ Cargo, Feb 15th.
Posted by: nick
Forget Dent May, last night was the turn of Tune Yards and her Magnificent Ukulele to step into the limelight at a sold out Cargo in East London. After an energetic opening from poorly named Canadians Think About Life followed by a less than impressive set from try not so hard Londoners Trash Kit, we were all eager to see how Merrill Garbus’ (Tune Yards) stunning debut album would translate to the live arena.
Merrill took to the stage armed with that ukulele, two microphones, a snare, a floor tom and (with one brief exception) a trusty loop pedal. With a moustached bass player as her only human companion, she proceeded to chant and sing and snarl her way through an impressive set of material taken mostly from her 4ad debut ‘Bird Brains’.
A complex web of loops was spun by the New England starlet who certainly has a bit of an alt. diva vibe to her. Next to favourites like Hatari and recent single Real Live Flesh the ecstatic crowd were treated to a double encore consisting of a rare live performance of the “really difficult to do” Sunlight and an unnamed newbie which is business as usual you’ll be glad to hear.
Thick headed and warm hearted we enter the frosty London night. Come back soon Merrill.
