The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 17 August 2011.

Other Lives is an American indie rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma. The band formed in 2004 as Kunek and released one album in 2006 under that name. Other Lives’ self-titled album was released physically April 7, 2009 by TBD Records and digitally March 17, 2009. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Joey Waronker. The lead single “Black Tables” was featured on the 16th episode of season three, “Things Fall Apart” of the television show Ugly Betty, the first episode of season five, “In the Light” of the television show “Covert Affairs”, Dream a Little Dream of Me, Part 1 of the television show Grey’s Anatomy. and the episode Every Picture Tells A Story of the television show One Tree Hill.

As of February, 2011, Other Lives finished working on their new record titled Tamer Animals that is due out on May 10, 2011 in the USA and August 29, 2011 in UK/Europe. Their new song “For 12″ was featured as KCRW’s “Today’s Top Tune” on October 27, 2010. The band is spending their Summer 2011 tour with S. Carey and The Rosebuds.

“The core of that band is still with me,” says frontman Jesse Tabish, who founded Kunek with cellist Jenny Hsu and drummer Colby Owens. “In a lot of ways, it’s still what I gravitate towards, songwriting wise.” Tabish added, “I’d rather us be an ensemble than a rock band, That’s my goal—to get away from those traditional ideas. It’s not a strength in numbers kinda thing, either, where 12 people are on stage
and five of them are playing the same melody. When the music calls for that many players, we’ll go there. We’ll destroy the band itself.”

Band Members:

Jenny Hsu - Cello, Keys
Jonathon Mooney - Vocals, Guitar, Violin, French Horn, Trumpet, Keys, Percussion
Josh Onstott - Bass, Mellotron
Colby Owens - Drums
Jesse Tabish - Lead Vocals, Piano, Guitar, Harmonium, Organ, Vibes, Electric Harpsichord

Live

As I approached the venue I could not help thinking of the chaos that engulfed northern Manchester on my last gig visit. Tonight I’m here to review a concert by the creator of one of my favourite albums of the year so far. The band is Other Lives, the album is called TAMER ANIMALS which was released on the 29 August. Comparisons have been made with a number of acts including Fleet Foxes, Radiohead, and even Philip Glass. For me Fleet Foxes come closest although Other Lives has a much more interesting sound that seems to revolve around its powerful rhythmic heart.

I’m reminded of the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble music that often includes medieval percussive sounds. The power of Radio 1 to influence an act’s popularity became obvious tonight in an almost packed house following the band’s R1 Live Lounge performance. In fact Tabish commented that the band’s Manchester audience was larger than a home town USA one. The big question for me was whether the band could replicate its glorius sounds to the live stage, and I have to say the band did not disappoint.

However, the question has to be asked on why a band (with loads of instruments) even tries to perform at this particular venue. It’s tiny and at best only suits a solo performer maybe with minimal backing. Tonight the small stage was way too overcrowded, and with dreadful lighting and busy backdrop, this
show was less than satisfactory. It’s absolutely vital that promotors/acts ensure that the venue is adequate for their needs and while the Deaf Institute has an almost mythical reputation in reality it’s a fucking awful venue. In fact so bad that I have now decided I will not cover another gig there. The Band On The Wall would have been more appropriate.

Well that’s the bad news, the good news is Other Lives performed out of their skin and played every highlight from the new album plus a couple of wonderful encore surprises. Opening with ‘As I Lay My Head Down’ the band made an immediate impression. Jesse Tabish excelled from the first vocal note while the band’s signature, original sound came through loud an clear. There’s a lightness of touch but at the same time an expansive sound which comes with truckloads of emotional impact. It’s at moments like this that a better venue would have been ideal.

Two other favourites followed including the brass-led ‘Dark Horse’ which opens the album in grand style. Jonathon Mooney was incredible as he blew his horn one moment and then shifted over to his violin for the next. I was reminded of the distinction of Low Anthem who I also saw at this venue a couple of years ago. Then came the album’s first single track ‘For 12′ which received awards back in the USA, perhaps because of it’s Tex-Mex flavour and memorable melody. It’s not my favourite album track but by heck it’s good…

An encore was demanded and delivered by and to the most enthusiastic audience. First the wonderful ‘Black Tables’ from the band’s first album followed by a beautiful Leonard Cohen cover - ‘The Partisan’.  My summary of the night: Great band, great songs, distinctive folk sound, shit venue.

Here’s what another reviewer wrote:

“This is not simple acoustic folk music: technology is exploited liberally, evident in the synth keyboards and copious reverb. This gives a dreamy feel, where multiple parts blur into a expanse of rich sound, so you give up trying to analyse the harmony and submit to the introspective atmosphere. It’s emotional stuff, coaxing long lost memories from your subconsciousness, and leaving you with faith that
everything will work out in the end. It’s so creatively inspiring, the transmission of love through music leaving you a little more enlightened and tolerant at the end.”

SET-LIST: As I Lay My Head Down, Dark Horse, For 12, Tamer Animals, Dustbowl III, Landforms, Old Statues, Weather, Black Tables, The Partisan.