Relentless Garage, London- 15 March 2010
To the uninitiated, the sight of the marionette like figure of singer Ian Kenny in front of Karnivool’s epic wall of sound is at first a fascinating juxtaposition of human fragility against a sonic colossus.
Only a few verses of opener Simple Boy from the new album Sound Awake are enough though for Kenny to prove that his vocals can not only scale the wall but soar clear over it.
By the second tune Goliath, the band are already well into stride.
As faultless as the other players in the band, Kenny’s gloriously melodic tenor tone switches from tender beauty to a towering, soulful wail and back, all within a nudge of the geek-chic, horn rim specs back up the bridge of his nose.
The song is an instant highlight and not really topped for the rest of the set.
Hanging out in Sweden over the winter with his other band, the comparatively soft Birds Of Tokyo, has perhaps chilled Kenny a little though.
While possessed much of the time in his unique, puppet without stings, ‘Kenny’ kind of way, except for New Day there is little of the arm flaying, absolutely berserko Ian.
Rather, he is a more focussed figure, gazing out from those glasses at some horizon while motioning the band’s tidal wave of sound with his hands, washing it over the crowd who lap up every drop adoringly.
The energy of the crowd and band swell, climaxing with debut album favourites, Roquefort and Themata .
A more sober Change closes out the set, landing us back down safely from that behemoth of a noise and one helluva show.
Were you at the gig? Leave your comments below
Ian Kenny talks to Australian Times about the Karnivool bus in the UK
Ian Kenny tells Australian Times about the forthcoming next Birds Of Tokyo album
Set list for Karnivool @ The Relentless Garage 15/03/2010
– Simple Boy
– Goliath
– Cote
– Set Fire To the Hive
– All I Know
– Deadman
– Fear Of the Sky
– New Day
– Roquefort
– Themata
– Change
