(Ed: apologies for the delay, but I was in Scotland)
Alex Cameron - Strange, minimalist, and weird; all in a good
way. He arrives with the least amount of fanfare legally allowed at 930.
Accompanied by backing tracks and a lone saxophone, there are uncomfortable
moments; almost Kaufman-esque. I can't tell if Alex is in his own world or it’s
an act. Roy has built himself such a home in the first three songs, that his
saxophone parts feel structurally necessary. Paired with Alex's uncomfortably
sex dancing, Roy almost gives the awkward movements legitimacy. It all reminds
me of Promise Keeper; an English artist by way of Georgia. Much like Cameron,
Promise Keeper leans heavily on backing tracks that evoke a specific place and
time. There are additional comparisons to be made; Dolby, Devo, and the like
but the sound is uniquely his. While Promise Keeper is earnest and emotional,
Alex is an amalgamation of the best parts of the decade; robotic, electronic,
poppy, weird, but most importantly, good.
Angel Olsen - There is no surprise, no questioning whether or not the show
has started, no unassuming stroll, Angel Olsen makes a proper entrance. The
beats, the pauses, the crowd work and their response are more traditional. Backed
by five musicians in matching gray suits, Olsen stands out, her fashion,
contemporary. It's not my intention to take away from the music by focusing on
fashion, but the juxtaposition is interesting. Like the backing band, elements
of the compositions are certainly traditional; the harmonies, the drums, pieces.
But just that pieces. With each steady rhythm, a sudden burst of mania is soon
to follow; elements of loud, soft, loud. Angel’s voice is strong, even as she
sings ‘there is nothing new under the sun’; there is an unmistakable confidence
in the conviction of her lyrics. The entirety of the set has this undercurrent
of nostalgia. It's as much about holding on to the past as it is about moving
forward. 
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