{"id":197345,"date":"2023-03-24T11:51:43","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T11:51:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whynow.co.uk\/?post_type=read&p=197345"},"modified":"2023-12-06T17:19:42","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T17:19:42","slug":"alex-g-roundhouse-review","status":"publish","type":"read","link":"https:\/\/whynow.co.uk\/read\/alex-g-roundhouse-review","title":{"rendered":"Alex G at Roundhouse review | Bewitching indie-rocker makes the music do the talking"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/h2>\n

Alex G crafted a rapturous set at Roundhouse, with tunes from his most recent album, God Save The Animals<\/em>, peppered with songs from his wide-ranging catalogue. Read our review.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Performers don\u2019t typically give away that there\u2019ll be an encore, but such is the honesty of Alex Giannascoli, aka Alex G, that between playing the final two tracks from his latest album \u2013 the deftly heart-wrenching \u2018Miracles\u2019 and the spiritual cleanser of \u2018Forgive\u2019 \u2013 he told the Roundhouse folk in his Philly twang, \u201cThere\u2019s gonna be some more songs, then there\u2019ll be an encore\u201d.<\/p>\n

Granted, it\u2019s not the most exclusive secret to give away \u2013 at a gig, no less \u2013 but it\u2019s a matter-of-factness that sums up the 30-year-old, who\u2019s simply too pure of heart to keep anything from us. God Save Animals<\/em>, his aforementioned record released in October was born from this place; a sublime, near-biblical offering that reads like a confessional as it paces between stripped-back moments with the singer\u2019s most experimental tracks to date.<\/p>\n

After a moment\u2019s tuning of instruments and auto-fine-tuning, Alex G\u2019s first two tracks tugged at both ends of these aspects, with the sinister, gravelly-sung \u2018S.D.O.S\u2019 followed by \u2018Runner\u2019, an unconventional feelgood anthem that talks of acceptance. The track\u2019s opening refrain, \u201cI like people who I can open up to \/ Who don\u2019t judge for what I say, but judge me for what I do\u201d<\/em>, seemed an apt mood-setter for a room crammed with people brought together by this unlikely star \u2013 some of whom had reportedly queued for hours to bag a good spot.<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n

There would, of course, be plenty of older tunes for these longstanding fans to soak up, intermingled with those from God Save The Animals<\/em>. \u2018After Ur Gone\u2019, the album opener to 2014\u2019s DSU<\/em>, was among the first notable throwbacks, its fuzzy grunge somehow showcasing both how far Alex G has come since its release and how much of his charm is about keeping things simple, the track twirling on the same three lines: \u201cAfter you\u2019re gone \/ How can we tell them you\u2019re gone? How can we show them you\u2019re gone?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Alex G was dressed to match for the night, wearing the kind of simple long-sleeve tee you\u2019d sling on after just getting out of bed; its skull-head on the back reflecting some eerie undertones in his music every time he turned round to face his band, who he\u2019d later warmly introduce to us: Tom Kelly on drums, John Heywood on bass, and Sam Acchione on guitar.<\/p>\n

The pacing of the track selection was well-considered, with the likes of the tortured noise rock of \u2018Brick\u2019 (oddly introduced as a hidden gem \u2018Pretend\u2019), the jangly instrumental \u2018Horse\u2019 and the heady synths of \u2018Blessing\u2019 delivered at a point where some sets can typically lull.<\/p>\n

This provided the setup for the more tender tunes of \u2018Immunity\u2019 and God Save The Animals<\/em> opener \u2018After All\u2019, via \u2018Early Morning Waiting\u2019, which saw Alex take to the keys and remind us all \u2013 as if it needed reminding, that is \u2013 of his multifaceted musical talents.<\/p>\n

All in all, this created a set that was neither too sickly sweet nor too bleak and bitter. On a purely technical level, too, the effect-heavy vocals that feature on many God Save The Animals<\/em> tunes \u2013 be it a childlike squeal (\u2018Immunity\u2019) or low-pitched huskiness (\u2018Blessing\u2019) \u2013 were implemented well in the live setting.<\/p>\n

And so we eventually arrived at the encore, just as Alex had said. Only, it wasn\u2019t so much an encore as it was an extended set altogether, adding seven more tracks to the 26-track-total setlist. The first of these, \u2018Gnaw\u2019, seemed to come by audience request \u2013 a display of how adept Alex and co. are in plucking up a tune from the artist\u2019s nine-album-deep catalogue (even if this one\u2019s a fan favourite).<\/p>\n

\u2018Harvey\u2019, \u2018Snot\u2019, \u2018Mis\u2019 and \u2018Bobby\u2019 would follow, each of their simple, one-word titles belying their beguiling qualities. Elliott Smith comparisons are often made to Alex G, and it was during this period of songs that made it hard not to hear why: beneath a distressed torment under them lies a hopeful reach for something better. It\u2019s sad and rather beautiful.<\/p>\n

Brooklyn duo Momma, the night\u2019s warm-up act, who were on tour with Wet Leg<\/a> last year, were brought out for the final tune \u2018Brite Boy\u2019 \u2013 another gently swaying, happy-sad cut from its creator\u2019s prolific output. (30 years old and nine studio albums are worth acknowledging).<\/p>\n

\"Alex

Photo: Chris Maggio<\/p><\/div>\n

Were you to put together a word cloud of Alex\u2019s crowd interactions on the night, \u2018Thank you\u2019 would easily dominate the page, it being his go-to during the few occasions he did speak.<\/p>\n

Often seen as mysterious by his lack of braggadocious chat, in reality, he simply lets his music do the talking. And for that, Alex, no \u2013 we thank you<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105,"featured_media":197347,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[2360],"tags":[2138,1742,1477,2106],"read-series":[],"article-types":[1981],"yoast_head":"\nAlex G at Roundhouse review | Bewitching indie-rocker makes the music do the talking<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606 Alex G crafted a rapturous set at Roundhouse, with tunes from his most recent album, God Save The Animals. 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