The Shins biggest headline tour yet
Having Natalie Portman utter the words "it'll change your life, I promise you", as well as being referenced in various American TV shows, has to raise the expectations of any artist, especially one as modest as The Shins. Their new album 'Wincing the Night Away' is one that can only be described as a 'grower' and this feeling was confirmed by two separate conversation I overheard in the toilet before the show.
Arriving bathed in brooding blue and purple shadows The Shins take to the stage as part of their most high profile headline tour yet. Their increased stature is quickly evident from the frenzied reaction to opener 'Sleeping Lessons' from fans in the front rows. Following the tracklisting from their latest album, 'Australia' follows in quick succession and sustains the momentum, particularly as it is a more boisterous song than its predecessor. Recent single 'Phantom Limb' features early on and unlike the more reflective new material could easily have been at home on either of the previous Shins albums.
A break from the most recent songs comes in the form of the unparalleled greatness of 'Kissing the Lipless', a song with so much energy and so many odd lyrics (such as "called to see if your back was still aligned and your sheets were growing grass all on the corners of your bed") that it's near impossible to dislike it, and really, why on earth would you? Personal favourite 'Mine's Not a High Horse' follows and is dazzling; again the disarmingly perceptive lyrics of James Mercer are striking. 'Girl Inform Me' and 'Pressed in a Book' follow, in a set that surprisingly seems to rely on old thrills as opposed to new surprises. In that sense the gig is largely pleasing although ultimately a rather safe outing, with the venue size perhaps dictating that the band don't veer too far from the beaten track. There's also a weakness in the form of the band's awkward banter, meaning there is little presence to the personalities onstage, and as such at times it can feel a little too familiar, like listening to albums being played live at an excessively high volume in an all too straightforward fashion.
Evidently The Shins' stock is rising as their sold out dates on this tour indicate, and with critical reception of their latest album being very positive it's easy to imagine them progressing from this stage pretty quickly. Live the band are worthwhile to hear the guaranteed favourites performed with energy and vigour, but the predictable set might suggest they're not one to experience live repeatedly. The memory might fade quickly but it's fun while it lasts.