Intense should never be misconceived as depressive, and as most in attendance tonight will attest The Antlers should be sat firmly in the corner of the former, as any other conclusion is just plain lazy.
Often unfairly labeled as them moping types, New York’s The Antlers are one of the many underrated American gems that have been kicking around the scene for years now with little or no fanfare.
It is with typical understatement and a soft quietness that the band swiftly slink on stage at 8:15 sharp this Saturday night, in support of latest album Familiars, and the set opens with the beautiful piano led duo of ‘Palace’ and ‘Doppelgänger’.
On ‘Doppelgänger’ in particular, the band display a sort of orchestral brilliance rarely recaptured so fantastically in a live setting.
So often music of such an expanse is something of a let down in concert, vocals buried somewhere in among a chaos of instruments, not so tonight as the wall of noise smoothly navigates from piano to guitar and understated percussion and drumming compliment both keys and trumpets.
Indeed, so good is the sound setup, the band can be forgiven for prolonged pauses in between songs, which at times result in a struggle for a flow to proceedings and sees Oran Mor appear a tad restless while Peter Silberman and co ready themselves.
However, it could be said that such delays are a price worth paying when treated to beauties like ‘I Don’t Want Love’, its fragile yet powerful crashing chords perfectly placed alongside Silberman’s brutally honest lyrics.
‘No Widows’ from the same Burst Apart album follows a similar path, inviting the listener on a journey of supreme ethereal grace, as the frontman declares “no perfect love above, no punishment below”.
Silberman, revered for his mastery of the higher vocal registers, as well as playing a mean guitar, navigates through his vocals with a quietly spoken belief.
There is a certain delicacy to The Antlers that shines throughout, as layer upon layer of textured chaos is added to proceedings.
Having kept stage banter to a minimum, the frontman confide in us that Glasgow has been tremendous and that Gerry of the road crew is from Glasgow.
Following an attempt at happy birthday for Gerry we are treated to yet another “oldie” in the form of the swelling ‘Putting the Dog to Sleep’, before the set is rounded off by a fresh take on ‘Epilogue’ from 2009’s Hospice album.
Silberman slowly builds the track, delicately wrapping all in attendance around his little finger, assuming sole control of the song until the very later stages when the other band members return to stage.
Supposed downtempo rock never had it so good, and despite a restlessness among some of the Glasgow crowd, The Antlers prove all good things can come to those who wait and that sometimes, just sometimes, a band can improve year upon year with apparent ease.
Words: Andy Quigley
Photos: Daphne Michalaki
