Television
Live at Phoenix
June 9, 2006
Toronto, Canada
By Christopher Duda (and ripping off whole sentences by my friend Dick Disease)
SugarBuzz Magazine
Not since 1992 upon the release of Television-S/T had these masters of aural pleasure hit the polluted shores of Toronto.
It was with total adulation and excitement that I now finally had the opportunity to see what I consider to be one of the most important bands in the history of rock and roll.
The NXNE music festival usually has some great showcases but this was the piece de resistance.
Now, I was feeling no pain mind you upon arriving at the ungodly start time of 6:00pm. Just after 7:00pm-Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd, Billy Ficca, and Fred Smith without pomp and circumstance sauntered onto the stage. Some loving fan bellowed loudly “ You are my favourite guitar players”; which I was sure cracked a small hardly noticeable smile on Verlaine.
Now if you are looking for a stage show or and image you might as well of just walked out at that moment. Television transcends that.
It's music that's very visceral on one level (i.e. punk) but also achieves musical heights and complexity that most people simply won't get or may even be repulsed by. However, if you can dig deep into that substance than Verlaine and Lloyd’s duelling leads on top of a solid rhythm section will reward you aplenty. This is as good as it gets -literally.
Television has never stuck to a formula and never will. They are devoid of common clichéd structure or patterns. For example, you won’t or can’t expect to hear “Little Johnny Jewel” done the same way every night.
Television grabbed their audience and brought them into their lair from the opening note. Like hypnotized cobras the audience stood in awe and let the power of the music bring them to new levels. I swear I saw individuals in trance like states either aided or probably more often than not just getting off on the power of live music this powerful.
To describe a Television show by listing what songs they did would be doing them a disservice. The most important statement I can make to any interested party is not to let this one escape you. Television will have you yearning for every sound thrown at your mind journey.
This case is closed