Athlete at Somerset House, July 17 2009.
Photos: Athlete live at Somerset House, Friday July 17, 2009.
More clean-cut guitar pop heading in the wrong direction
The rain has finally lifted at Somerset House. Ever-threatening clouds hover above a politely awaiting crowd seemingly more intent on a quiet evening in impeccable surroundings rather than a summer weekend all-nighter.
Close to a fiver for a minuscule glass of wine certainly doesn't inspire drunken debauchery, but then again the typical Athlete fan has really never been the kind to be tempted to run naked across the stage, smacking the drummer's head with a plastic garden flamingo. Or crowdsurf.
Athlete, after all, have been heralded as the pinnacle of housewife-friendly pop; the sort of music that couldn't scare your nan even if played through crackling speakers at the volume level of your token 747 jet; a bottomless crater on the planet of TurinBrakes/Starsailor/SnowPatrol/Phoenix/Embrace/Coldplay/Keane/Travis/TakeThat(mkII), where Christ Martin (sic) is almighty, and everything is very, very sensitive. And if the aural equivalent of a Coldplay rolling around in a field of daises with Gary Barlow, complete with faux-military high-neck attire is too much to bear, then an Athlete gig is best avoided.
For tonight, a half-full Somerset House is far from witnessing a magical display of sentimental pop-ballads, if there ever has been such a thing. When the band finally emerge, after a false start prompted some light-mannered booing, they do so to more of an ambivalent ''oh, there they are'' rather than genuine excitement. ''That was supposed to be a great intro'', comments frontman Joel Pott before launching into new album's opener Superhuman Touch. The irony, clearly is lost.
Having recently parted ways with Parlophone, one might think a change of label would yield a perfect opportunity to unveil a new sound, but alas, as with current label mates Snow Patrol, their sound hasn't as much evolved as it has been polished. Electronica-tinged tweakery has been swapped for a more refined pop sound, as evident tonight in the grandiosity of new songs Magical Mistakes, The Getaway and Light The Way.
They run excitedly through a setlist sounding like the collective soundtrack of every single American teen TV-drama since 1999, and although the crowd possibly doesn't consist solely of aspiring American teen TV-drama producers, we are all treated to the song from that scene where the young couple break up in the middle of a rainy street. For 90 minutes straight.
Big choruses are ferociously abundant, constantly tip-toeing around the inane. So, when during the extravagant coda of One Million, Pott brings forth a single tom only to lose one of his padded drumsticks on the first stroke, comedy finally overshadows performance.
But it's not all bad weather for Athlete. Another new track, Black Swan Song - one of the most epic cuts from Athlete's catalogue - is dedicated to one of Pott's ''heroic'' ancestors, and sees its momentum rise towards a gigantic climax amidst unbearable lyrical cliches (''My body is weak/but my soul is still strong''), string-laden arrangements and, in all probability, another really emotional rainy break-up scene. Slightly unsettling then, that the song is oddly gracious in all its stadium-sized pomposity.
Their old hits - Half Light, El Savador, Westside - sound exactly like you expect them to, and as an obligatory encore comes to end with an exceptionally plain rendition of Wires, one is left with the wonder if the former Christian rockers are heading down the pitfall of Embrace circa. 2001 or will see themselves miraculously catapulted into the stratosphere of aforementioned deities. The necessary miracle however, seems painfully unreachable.
- Words & Photos: Brand Barstein
Were you there? Have we got it all wrong? Leave your review in the comments below.
Photos: Athlete live at Somerset House, Friday July 17, 2009.
Setlist:
Superhuman Touch
You Got The Style
Half Light
Shake Those Windows
Hurricane
Black Swan Song
Tourist
El Salvador
One Million
Magical Mistakes
Westside
The Outsiders
24 Hours
The Getaway
Light The Way
Vehicles And Animals
Wires
11:50 AM | 20/07/2009
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User Comments
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Yes I was there and you are totally wrong.
I have seen Athlete many times so I am a fan. This was probably the best time I have seen them. They sounded amazing. The song choices were fantastic and the new songs sound really promising.
Your review was obviously written by someone who had already decided to give them a slagging.
I had a great night. Athlete are back and Superhuman Touch is a great first single from the new album.
Mark W
Posted by mark wynoy at 7:32 PM | 21/07/2009 | Report Abuse
how can Mr. Barstein receive a money for this crappy review? i think he was on different gig on different planet.
Posted by Peter at 8:34 PM | 22/07/2009 | Report Abuse
I'm sorry the reviewer didn't like the gig, but I think he had decided not to like it before it started. Athlete write great pop songs and play them very well. What's your problem? Or is pop not cool enough for you?
Posted by Nigel Paramor at 4:03 PM | 25/07/2009 | Report Abuse
Are you sure the reviewer was actually at the gig? Doesn't sound like the one I was at!
Athlete were brilliant - the loss of Joel's drumstick did send a ripple of laughter round the courtyard - all the fans I was standing with were thoroughly enjoying themselves from the start to the end of the concert.
Loved the new songs, loved all the old ones too. Wires was definitely not an "exceptionally plain rendition".
Next time send someone who actually wants to go to the gig, then maybe you will get a proper reveiw
Posted by Sue B at 10:24 PM | 26/07/2009 | Report Abuse
I'm sorry, but how does this paragraph, help review Athlete...
Athlete, after all, have been heralded as the pinnacle of housewife-friendly pop; the sort of music that couldn't scare your nan even if played through crackling speakers at the volume level of your token 747 jet; a bottomless crater on the planet of TurinBrakes/Starsailor/SnowPatrol/Phoenix/Embrace/Coldplay/Keane/Travis/TakeThat(mkII), where Christ Martin (sic) is almighty, and everything is very, very sensitive. And if the aural equivalent of a Coldplay rolling around in a field of daises with Gary Barlow, complete with faux-military high-neck attire is too much to bear, then an Athlete gig is best avoided.
All this does is confuse the reader, then the comment, "housewife friendly pop", my friends think that Athlete are a tad depressing to be honest. And what's wrong with sentiment! The sweeping pop and bellowing choruses are great.
I did not go to this gig, but I saw Athlete in Exeter, the whole crowd were having a great time and they were so happy.
Some radio stations seem to think differently to your reviewers opinion and as such has made the BBC Radio 2 A Playlist, the XFM playlist and the Absolute Radio playlist and it has even been played on Q radio. Yes widespread airplay is sureley the sign of a band close to faliure...
You criticize the recent attempts by their label-mates Snow Patrol, but what is wrong with an album that has gone Gold in Australia, 2x Platinum in the UK and 3x Platinum in Ireland?!
Just because you dont like something, reviewers are not meant to be totally biased which you seem to be. I hope you didn't get paid much for this terrible review.
Even your "But it's not all bad weather" paragraph was filled with a snide comment, its just another soppy break-up scene song to him. Well not to me.
My dad (who is a big fan of classic rock like The Who, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd) said they played very well when we saw them live, he is a fan and so is my sister too. In fact the only one who isnt a massive fan of this band is the "housewife"
Mr Barstein, lets see you do any better. Could you have even half the charisma of Joel Potts at the end of One Million where it has all gone wrong with the drumsitck? I think not.
Athlete are a great band who have not had the publicity and attention the deserve due to bad reveiws like yours. They are a truly understated band who have had this injustice of a review written about them. All the other comments agree. Were you actually even at the gig?
I hope Q's reviewing standard gets better, rather than cynical people who are out to lynch the band before they start.
Posted by Tom Oakley at 2:59 PM | 27/07/2009 | Report Abuse
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Down with crappy reveiws, up with Athlete. Down with crappy reveiws, up with Athlete. Down with crappy reveiws, up with Athlete. Down with crappy reveiws, up with Athlete. Down with crappy reveiws, up with Athlete. Down with crappy reveiws, up with Athlete. Down with crappy reveiws, up with Athlete. You get the picture, Athletes got the style! Yeah! WOOOOO! Athlete ROCK! WOOO =P
Posted by Anonymous at 3:04 PM | 27/07/2009 | Report Abuse
I'll never read a review or anything on q the music for the rest of my life.this is not a review this is a joke. ridiculous!
Posted by Kupiz at 11:52 AM | 01/08/2009 | Report Abuse
hahaha reading the comments there seems like youve properly blundered with that review son. as my old gran (rest her soul:P) used to say, if youve not got anything nice to say............ seen athlete 4 times and never seen a middle aged housewife yet, strange that eh?
Posted by buckster at 10:51 AM | 02/08/2009 | Report Abuse
hahaha reading the comments there seems like youve properly blundered with that review son. as my old gran (rest her soul:P) used to say, if youve not got anything nice to say............ seen athlete 4 times and never seen a middle aged housewife yet, strange that eh?
Posted by buckster at 10:53 AM | 02/08/2009 | Report Abuse
I missed this gig, so it was nice to read such an informative piece of writing where someone didn't just list loads of bands who make the cool kids cringe. It was really amazing that you you didn't just spend the whole thing pouring out clever metaphors like waterfalls on to cynical lakes. Oh wait... its kinda tiring to read such useless writing wouldn't you agree?
Posted by anonymous at 10:20 PM | 03/08/2009 | Report Abuse
I missed this gig, so it was nice to read such an informative piece of writing where someone didn't just list loads of bands who make the cool kids cringe. It was really amazing that you you didn't just spend the whole thing pouring out clever metaphors like waterfalls on to cynical lakes. Oh wait... its kinda tiring to read such useless writing wouldn't you agree?
Posted by anonymous at 10:21 PM | 03/08/2009 | Report Abuse
I missed this gig, so it was nice to read such an informative piece of writing where someone didn't just list loads of bands who make the cool kids cringe. It was really amazing that you you didn't just spend the whole thing pouring out clever metaphors like waterfalls on to cynical lakes. Oh wait...
its kinda tiring to read such sarcastic writing wouldn't you now agree?
Posted by Anonymous at 10:26 PM | 03/08/2009 | Report Abuse
I have seen a middle aged woman at an Athlete gig... it was my mum, also I would completely agree that they need to work on finder a new sound. Its getting tiring listening to weaker and weaker material. Or perhaps someone should cause a family tragedy for Mr Potts so he writes something good again?
word
Posted by CHris at 2:35 PM | 25/11/2009 | Report Abuse
I have seen a middle aged woman at an Athlete gig... it was my mum, also I would completely agree that they need to work on finder a new sound. Its getting tiring listening to weaker and weaker material. Or perhaps someone should cause a family tragedy for Mr Potts so he writes something good again?
word
Posted by CHris at 2:36 PM | 25/11/2009 | Report Abuse
I have seen a middle aged woman at an Athlete gig... it was my mum, also I would completely agree that they need to work on finding a new sound. Its getting tiring listening to weaker and weaker material. Or perhaps someone should cause a family tragedy for Mr Potts so he writes something good again?
word
Posted by CHris at 2:36 PM | 25/11/2009 | Report Abuse
I have seen a middle aged woman at an Athlete gig... it was my mum, also I would completely agree that they need to work on finding a new sound. Its getting tiring listening to weaker and weaker material. Or perhaps someone should cause a family tragedy for Mr Potts so he writes something good again?
word
Posted by CHris at 2:37 PM | 25/11/2009 | Report Abuse
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