Going to a live show with someone unfamiliar with the band in question is a double-edged sword. While on one hand it could be a new ground for a friendship if all goes well, it can also lead to an awkward experience in which one is left wondering why on Earth they brought that person along. The live show is a setting where not all bands are able to deliver, and there’s few things more (musically) painful than enduring an act you enjoy making a fool of themselves on stage.
Active Child, in particular, is not always an easy band to grasp. Their sound is undeniably unconventional, and so my hesitation was more than justified when I called a friend just minutes before the show asking if he wanted to come along to see a band whose sound I could only describe so that he would understand as “weird and experimental”.
Before Active Child took the stage though, the (small) audience gathered there was met by I am Dive. While a two piece band, lead singer Esteban Ruiz Sánchez explained that the other member would unfortunately not be able to make it so he would just be performing an acoustic set. I am Dive‘s set lasted for roughly half an hour, in which Esteban, armed only with an acoustic guitar and a pedal board, played songs from the band’s latest EP, “Constellations” and the bands forthcoming debut album. Other than occasionally using echo and reverb to add depth, the songs had no gimmicks, revealing well crafted songs which kept the audience, at least those listening, engaged.
It seems somewhat ironic that I am Dive performed an acoustic set, because the band presented themselves (well, itself) as practically the antithesis to what Active Child’s set would be. After Esteban left stage it became apparent that the headlining band would have little to do with the acoustic numbers we had just seen. Simply from looking at the setup it was clear that everything was going to be much more grand, as on stage there were three laptops, two synths, a hybrid electronic-acoustic drum kit, a guitar and a bass, later joined by Pat Grossi’s signature harp, which he brought on stage himself.
My friend arrived just before the three members of the Active Child touring band took the stage (Pat Grossi is joined by a drummer and a multi-instrumentalist in the live setting) and opened the show with “You Are All I See”, the opening track to the eponymous album that ranked high on our favorite albums of the year. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have my doubts as two just how well the song (and overall sound) would translate, but it didn’t even take a full song to convince me. Pat Grossi‘s live vocal is spectacular, and the way he commands the stage even while sitting playing the harp is remarkable. It didn’t hurt either that he was joined by his enthusiastic tour mates, in particular the drummer, which brought an incredibly high energy showing throughout the set.
Once the song finished all it took was one look over to my friend to know that while he had no idea just what he was getting himself into, he had discovered a whole new world. I asked him if he liked it to which he responded with a satisfied nod just as the band took on “High Priestess”, met with a cheer from the crowd, as it’s a standout from the record. The song also translated well live, Pat Grossi’s voice again supported by fantastic instrumentation.
After “Shield & Sword” Grossi abandoned the comfort of his harp to walk over to the unclaimed synth and as the opening notes of “Playing House” started, the crowd erupted and a small dance party was formed as the beat hit. I was curious to see what would be done with How To Dress Well‘s pseudo-rap on the track, and was surprised when Grossi tore throughout with great style. The end of the song, possibly the band’s best, was met with a cheer, as he asked how the crowd was doing. There were plenty of English responses, which, given the small nature of the venue led to a bit of an exchange between the audience and the crowd, and where it was revealed that at least half of the approximately 200 in attendance were actually American and that this was the band’s first show in Spain, which, again, was met with great public response.
“When Your Love Is Safe” was a fantastic moment as well, and the 80′s dance groove style continued the dance floor attitude that had already been established. The combination of higher and lower vocal melodies made for some great interplay that was matched by the drums, a consistent high. The song was possibly the set’s most energetic moment, and my friend acknowledged that the last pair of songs had been brilliant.
Grossi had a chance to continue to show his lower register on “Diamond Heart”, a song I was unfamiliar with as it’s on the deluxe edition of the album, before slowing things down a bit with “See Thru Eyes” and “Way Too Fast” in what was the only slow point of the show. I’ve never been keen on “Fast”, and live I didn’t really find a new appreciation for it either.
“Hanging On” followed, a song for which the Active Child frontman returned to the harp. It was one of the night’s indisputable highs, and also the moment of dread as it became clear that things were coming to an end. It was confirmed, and the band ended with “Johnny Belinda”, a song that coincidentally (or not) closes of “You Are All I See”. The songs build was met with a harp solo at the end, which seems ridiculous but was anything but when executed on the stage.
The band then left the stage, thanking the audience as these chanted “otra! otra!” (“another! another!”), and I had a chance to comment the set with my amazed friend, who had completely been converted. We didn’t have much time, though, as the band returned promptly for a two-song encore, which started with “Ancient Eye”. The highlight of the return, though, was, without a doubt, “Ivy”, which the band built and extended, ending in a frenzy that was an incredible rush of adrenaline that only ended with the realization that it was over. It was a frantic ending, and, after thanking the audience again and again, the band left and the magical 60 minutes had come to a close.
On our way back home, my friend couldn’t stop talking about what a great set it had been, something that, honestly brought me great satisfaction. We commented together that it seems like style that just shouldn’t work, but somehow, magically, it does. Truth be told, though, there was no magic there, just three damn good musicians that are fantastic in their trade and that know how to bring the energy in ways that many similar artists just don’t know how. It’s always the audience that is thanked for attending, but, in some cases, it’s more necessary to thank the performers. So, thank you, Active Child, for making our Wednesday night unbelievable.
