Author – Bridget Benevides
I was lucky enough to end Winter Quarter with the thing I love most: live music. On Thursday, March 22nd, I made my way to Neumos in Capitol Hill for the first time. Neumos prides themselves on their always relevant and carefully curated music calendar, outstanding light production, and a state-of-the-art sound system. The showroom features three full service bars, a second floor mezzanine, and a balcony that overlooks the stage. They host a variety of national and local musicians who play genres across the spectrum
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I encountered minor difficulty finding my way in as an under 21 year old attendee, but nonetheless found a spot on the balcony before the show started. The crowd included a very diverse age range of people, from a toddler to older folks, and I did not feel out of place.
The show began at 8:45 PM with a performance by BRIN, a Portland based artist who played very eclectic and unique electronic music. He was a solo artist who mixed his own beats and created a very interesting atmosphere. His music made me feel as if I may have been in the presence of aliens, which was mildly unnerving, but I have respect that he was able to create such an odd and one-of-a-kind feeling. At the end of his half hour set he introduced himself and thanked the crowd for their attention, then he swiftly left the stage.
This Will Destroy You came on silently, with no introduction at 9:45 PM with a slow song that gradually and powerfully transformed into a loud and moving piece. The incredible music was made by four band members: two guitars, a piano and a drum set. It was absolutely stunning how beautifully and masterfully they created music. When I listened to them online I figured most of their sound came from electronic editing but I was blown away hearing how good they sounded live.
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The music was so loud that it vibrated all around me as the sound waves hugged by body from all sides. The thing about music without words is that you can’t get lost in the lyrics, so you have to get lose in the feeling, the emotion, the movement. Members of the audience, myself included, closed their eyes to be taken by the tunes, to be washed away by the sea of sound.
Their songs moved seamlessly from one to another, with barely enough time for the audience to clap, but the adoring fans made sure the band knew they were enjoying themselves. A relaxing show of lights accompanied the music in a way that was calming but also gave the music more depth. The music made me think deeply, but was also so loud and overwhelmingly powerful that I couldn’t help but not think at all which was a rare release for me. I think that’s where so many individuals find comfort in the music of This Will Destroy you, it has so many different rhythms: they’re soft and they’re strong, they’re simple yet complex. You can listen to them for hours and find new things within the music and within yourself and I am thankful for these musicians ability to create such an impactful feeling.
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I got lost at This Will Destroy You, and after a long winter quarter that was all I could have asked for. Thank you, Amelia, for letting me experience this band. It sparked a new light in me, and I will never forget that feeling.
BRIDGET BENEVIDES | Tears were shed | KXSU Music Reporter