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Two gigs by a 4AD artist in as many weeks, both women, both performing under a
stage name. After enjoying tUnE-yArDs last week in the Melkweg's Oude Zaal,
we're now assembled on the opposite side of the building, in the larger Max,
awaiting the arrival of St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark.

The support band are locals, the Leonard Cohen inspired Bird On The Wire. They
go down well and are definitely a cut above the usual home-grown dross, but
still a bit too bland for my taste. Nevertheless, they set the stage for St.
Vincent, who comes on shortly after nine o'clock to a pretty full, but not
sold-out Max.

Bird On The Wire had sounded rather muddy to my ears, but no such problem
afflicts St. Vincent. On the contrary, the sound for her tonight is strikingly
good, with a really rich bass thumping out of the synths.

SET LIST:

1. [unknown]
2. Le Petit Prince
3. Early Warnings
4. Gilbert
5. Lies
6. Noise Of A Quiet Man
7. Words

Running time: 29m 08s

NOTES:

Amsterdam's own Bird On The Wire were supporting St. Vincent this evening.

I entered the Max as the band were taking to the stage and picking up their
instruments, so I had to rush down to the front and hastily boot my recorder
before they started to play. With mere seconds to spare, I was ready to roll.

Bird On The Wire are impossibly young, but that seems to be more and more the
case these days. It doesn't help that I continue to get older. I don't hold it
against them. On the contrary, it's very impressive.

Judging by the youthfulness and enthusiasm of the assembled early audience,
the band had brought along a lot of their friends to watch them play what was
probably their highest profile gig to date.

A cut above the usual local dross -- The Netherlands churns out the worst
music in northern Europe -- Bird On The Wire's modus operandi is down-tempo
folk pop, the Leonard Cohen inspired band name effectively removing the
element of surprise for a first-time listener. You get more or less what you
might expect.

It was inoffensive and laid back, but that's a sure instance of damning with
faint praise. There's not much more I can say, really. They reminded me of the
Shop Assistants' quieter moments, with trace elements of Lush thrown in, but
distinctly blander than both. Judge for yourself, though.

Apart from the addition of fades at the beginning and end, I haven't processed
the recording in any way. What you will hear is therefore a faithful
reproduction of the show as it happened on the night. The sound is excellent.

Enjoy!