Live review: Explosions in the Sky

Explosions in the Sky w/ The Octopus Project

Amos’ Southend

April 3, 2011

The Deal: Instrumental powerhouse Explosions in the Sky brings along the more eclectic The Octopus Project for powerful night of music.

The Good: The Octopus Project started the night with a 40-minute set of mostly instrumentals. The band’s indie style was mostly instrumental and used a bit of samples and steady use of a Theramin to create an at-times chaotic mood and wall of sound. Band members often changed instruments up and the use of black lights and neon created a simple stage show. It was the perfect choice of an opener to warm up a packed house for what was to come.

Explosions in the Sky came out to the stage, thanked those in attendance for coming out and with a simple, “We’re Explosions in the Sky from Austin, Texas,” launched into an hour-and-15-minute set that came across as one long song never finding a moment to take a break. From the opening of “Postcard from 1952” to the final notes of “Trembling Hands,” the band conveys endless emotions and energy without the need for any words. The trio of guitarists up front swayed, stood still in focus or sometimes kneeled on the stage, letting the music carry them through and worrying little about presentation. It’s the music that the crowd was there for as it filled the venue.

I’m reminded of an art exhibit I went to in the mid-1990s called “Rings.” The exhibit was separated in five sections with works of art expressing emotions — anguish, joy, triumph, awe and love. Just as walking through each section would flood the person with each of those feelings, Explosions in the Sky’s music takes the listener on a journey… building up from simple notes into walls of sound and chords harnessing energy and feeding into the crowd as it slowly diffuses back into notes or abrupt feedback before the next song begins.

The night ended without an encore as guitarist Munaf Rayani simply stated, “Thank you for your time and interest.”

The Bad: No complaints.

The Verdict: It’s not easy to make instrumental music so accessible, interesting and full of emotion and keep an audience transfixed for more than an hour, but Explosions in the Sky does that, and does it really well.

Explosions in the Sky setlist

Postcard from 1952

The Birth and Death of the Day

Your Hand in Mine

Last Known Surroundings

The Only Moment We Were Alone

Catastrophe and the Cure

Let Me Back In

Greet Death

Trembling Hands

This article appears in Mar 29 – Apr 4, 2011.