EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY @ The Grey Eagle - 3/14/07

This show happened over two months ago, but I feel like it's worth writing about because it was literally the BEST live music I have ever seen. It was one of those great nights with your college buddies, seeing post-rock that stems from other worlds, with amazing lights and energy.

We got to the Grey Eagle right before Eluvium took the stage. The Grey Eagle is a fantastic venue, only five minutes from UNC-Asheville's campus. It's located in a "warehouse district," which is a most isolated and dark place to be at night, a perfect landmark for Explosions in the Sky, who had never come to Asheville before. Boy, did they ROCK the world.

Eluvium was pretty satisfying. Very calm, pretty, sometimes intense ambience stemming from one guy's keyboard/synths/guitar. A sweet video screen made the waves of white noise almost cinematic. The Paper Chase played second, a high energy set of freakout post-punk. Kind of like an overblown punk act with too much going on musically. Frantic and shrill, the Paper Chase had most people frowning. But, it was a good atmosphere, and the band seemed to be in good spirits like the rest of the Eagle.

Explosions played a truly mind-blowing set. Opened with "First Breat After Coma" which wove seamlessly into "Welcome, Ghosts." I wasn't expecting that loud of a show, and "First Breath" wasn't that loud until the end, but "Welcome, Ghosts" was mind-alteringly loud as fuck. Every high note hit with ear-splitting impact. I thought my face was melting off!! All in all a very nice display of intricate, well-executed post-rock. Setlist:

1. First Breath After Coma
2. Welcome, Ghosts
3. The Only Moment We Were Alone
4. Greet Death
5. What Do You Go Home To?
6. Yasmin the Light
7. Catastrophe and the Cure
8. Memorial