Do Make Say Think w/ Years – Scala, London 22/10/09

“This is the first ever Years show” says guitarist Ohad Benchetrit, shyly. “Well, there was one time back earlier this year, but that was a disaster so it doesn’t count.” With that he sits on his upturned pedal case and begins to tease out a series of fingerpicked melodies, building loops and throwing in shards of noise. Clearly nervous, occasionally he trips with his picking but eventually gets in to his stride as he is joined by a trumpet. The performance seems more restrained and organic than his self titled alum, released on Arts and Crafts earlier this year. That is until he invites the rest of Do Make Say Think to get up from the side of the stage and join him, from whence the performance gains in intensity- trumpets and sax soaring and Benchetrit’s intricate melodies and loops underpinned by Charlie Spearin’s solid bass work. Having earlier admitted that he used to ‘hide’ during DMST shows, the addition of his familiars seems to be a boost to the confidence, and the electronic swirls and loops add to a deafening crescendo that sees a woman in the front row faint to the floor.

Having seemingly been in full flow it seems odd that the band don’t just play through and begin Do Make Say Think’s set. However when they come back on they pick up where they left off, slotting effortlessly into the new album opener ‘Do’. It proves to be a powerful surge and the identikit nodding heads and beards in the front row nod along in unison. As an instrumental band on constellation, Do Make Say Think have always been roundly bracketed as post-rock, yet they have always been on the more pop side of that genre. So much of what they do tonight is carried on the fluid groove of Charlie Spearin’s bass lines, which in combination with the horn section provide surging melodies to complement the guitar attack and swooning violin. The live debut of ‘Say’ proves to be a particular highlight (even if the band themselves can’t remember if it actually is the songs debut or not). With sounds and rhythmic patterns weaving in and out, there is a hypnotic power to the performance, so much so that when things turn to the more discordant side of things late in the set it has a disorienting and dizzying effect. Before long however, the bands inherent desire to create melodies kicks in again. By the end of the show the band are so into the show that they even manage to whip out a few punk rock shapes last seen on Rock Band. With the support acts all being drawn from within the bands ranks, tonights show feels more like an extended party to which all of the heaving Scala is invited.

Oh, and by the way, if they ever release “(Post)Rock Band: The DMST edition” for X Box, I’ll be first in line.

Buy Years music on [itunes link=“http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=30409596&uo=4” title=“Years” text=“iTunes”]
Buy Do Make Say Think music on [itunes link=“http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=4120925&uo=4” title=“Do Make Say Think” text=“iTunes”]