SENIOR REVIEWER
There's a Zen saying for almost any situation. One that comes to mind is particularly fitting for the profoundly affecting Mercury Rev performance at Carrboro's Cat's Cradle Monday night.
"Before Zen," the saying goes, "a mountain is a mountain and a cup of tea is a cup of tea. While one is practicing Zen, a mountain is no longer a mountain and a cup of tea is no longer a cup of tea. After Zen, a mountain is once again a mountain and a cup of tea is once again a cup of tea."
Replace "Zen" with "Mercury Rev," and you have an approximate description of their seven-song set. The innovative sextet from upstate New York put on an incredible, dream-like show that, at its end, left me feeling almost exactly the same, except aware of a seed planted deep within.
An unfamiliar first song set the mood for the evening, whipping up a gentle wash of distortion, augmented by drummer Jimy Chambers' impeccable skill and Suzanna Thorpe's subtle, moving flute.
Vocalist and guitarist Jonathan Donahue arched his lean body toward the microphone, singing in a wispy, soothing voice. Grasshopper, the group's second guitarist, sweated, emoted and rocked in time with the music.
They then launched into an energetic, poppy rendition of "Coney Island Cyclones," from their debut album Yerself Is Steam. Superimposed images flickered on a sheet tacked up behind the stage, which contributed to the blend of sensations.
At various points during the evening images of maps, babies, coffins, sunrises, oceans and an earnest folkie duo played across the screen. Few bands ever venture into the visual realm as successfully as Mercury Rev did.
Donahue joked with the crowd between songs, pausing to say, "Tonight we can be either Mercury Rev or Einsturzende Neubauten, whichever you prefer." (Neubauten is an influential German industrial group.) "We're taping the s-- down in case you choose Neubauten."
Thankfully, they chose to be Mercury Rev. Free of the noisy antics that got them kicked off of Lollapalooza's second stage several years ago, the show was a drug-free, psychedelic experience, all heavenly melodies and powerful music.
Their enjoyable rendering of their most popular song, "Car Wash Hair," was a surprising and completely satisfying treat. Likewise, the jazzy "Boys Peel Out" from their second album, Boces, left nothing to be desired. Donahue even tossed in a few verses from "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah," pointing to the crowd and singing, "Plenty of sunshine comin' your way."
Chambers, who looked exactly like my best friend from high school, perfectly handled every change in tempo. Though their albums derive their strength largely from their in-studio noodling, Rev proved that they could work their magic independent of complicated electronics, falling back on strong musicianship and excellent songwriting.
The set's brevity was the evening's only drawback. Mercury Rev was opening for Hum, in a situation that continues the odious trend of spectacular veterans opening for less talented bands. Chalk up this error to the same logic that puts Guided By Voices and the Flaming Lips in opening slots for Urge Overkill and Candlebox, respectively.
Regardless, their transcendent performance indicates that the members of Mercury Rev know something profound, and they communicate it in their nearly spiritual music. I was skeptical that they would be able to sound as miraculous live, but they pulled it off and then some.