The Antlers, Union Chapel – 03/03/10

15 March 2010, 10:50 | Written by Lauren Down

(Live)

Sat with tea firmly in hand always reminds me why I love gigs at the Union Chapel, even with the hard classic chapel pews and the fact I am still wearing my scarf, nothing is quite as ‘lovely’ as the Union Chapel.

Marques Toliver is the first to take to the stage, and as he plucks the strings of his violin with gentle anger the shifting of feet quietens. Often letting the songs lead where his fingers follow the Brooklyn born ex-busker’s songs take on a life of there own under the flickering candle light. Blending elements of classical music with jazz, blues, folk and soul, Toliver’s songs have a minimalist, melancholic air as they soar over the pews with piercing highs and trembling lows.

Another mug of tea later and The Antlers harmonies begin to gently glide through the breath-taking architecture. Toliver joins the 3 piece New Yorkers as their instrumentals crescendo, filling the whole room. As Toliver departs the brass section steps up and Peter Silberman’s falsetto vocals drop beautifully into ‘Sylvia’. With his capo right next to the body of the guitar, his voice cries out with a strange tension as he refrains from really pouring his heart out. Clearly wanting the performance to reflect the atmosphere of the venue, every song holds back slightly and although this takes nothing away from the beauty, isolation and sincerity of the music, it creates a very apprehensive atmosphere.

The audience is silent and respectful as they play through tracks from their stark and honest narrative debut Hospice. From the despairing ‘Kettering’ to the compelling ‘Bear’ The Antlers overwhelming earnest and emotional strings and soaring melodies are all tinged with an inescapable sadness. Yet Silberman’s piercing, smooth voice allows for music that is fixated on death and illness to still sound hopeful. Everyone draws a deep breath as Silberman, Michael Lerner and Darby Cicci make their final venture into ‘Epilogue’; a haunting tail of hospital visits that shakes the audience to their very core.

Marques Toliver on MySpace || The Antlers on MySpace