The Shins - Enmore Theatre - 9th August 2007
Featuring: The Shins
Written by: Mark Simms
Published: Aug 9th '07
With fans sitting on the concrete outside The Enmore Theatre since 2pm trying to beat the rest of the crowd, The Shins are getting people of all ages excited. Support act The Ruby Suns put on an energized and well received performance, but the bustling noise threatens to storm inside as the crowd are certainly here for the headline.
The atmospheric intro of ‘Sleeping Lessons’ kicks off tonight’s performance, the stage embellished by a shimmering blue light, the band members hidden in darkness. Mercer’s vibrant voice ricochets off the rather large walls of the Enmore Theatre in a remarkable way. The stage then explodes in colour, Mercer’s voice rising in cadence, providing a great opening. There is an energy radiating from the stage and as ‘Sleeping Lessons’ reaches it’s peak The Shins somehow manage to reach another notch.
Showcasing songs from newest album Wincing The Night Away, but also songs from their previous two albums, The Shins move through the catalogue with ease, barely pausing for stage banter. While there were a number of predicatable favourites, including ‘New Slang’ and Mine’s Not A High Horse’, it was their encore songs that most surprised including a moody cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Breathe’, and a toned down, acoustic ‘Caring Is Creepy’ that ended the night fittingly.
