Mono at Koko
Words and photos: Antony Roberts
Firstly i have to apologize, i take photos….i don’t write.
Unfortunately our reviewer got held up at work and so it’s been left to me to cobble a review.
You may be asking what a site called metalgigs is up to doing a review on Mono in the first place. Well let me tell you Mono can put more emotion and epicness into one riff than most modern metal bands. This site is dedicated to all of the silly named sub genres rock and metal have created over the years and postrock holds a firm grasp on many of our reviewers hearts and so I shall proceed…
As soon as this gig got announced I was super excited at the photo opportunities it would present. Having seen Mono previously at Digital in Brighton a few years back i was keen to see what a full orchestra would do to their live show. Super wide angle shots of groups of string players bows up in unison with Takaakira thrashing away sounded like a dream. Upon arrival my hopes were quickly dashed. Many of the previous “with orchestra” gigs i’d shot at had been laid out with the full orchestra surrounding the band. Unfortunately the size of the Kokos stage meant space was severely limited and so the stage was laid out as normal with the whole band up front, their backing line behind, and then behind that the orchestra. Views of the entire orchestra were blocked with Takada’s giant gong obscuring the view of the majority of the holy ground orchestra.
Opening with Ashes in the Snow, the first track taken from their 2009 Steve Albini produced album Hymn to the Immortal Wind and straight away I knew this was going to be the special gig I’d hoped it would be. Initially the sound was very quiet for the orchestra but as the song moved on it seemed the technicians did their job well and the levels were sorted. Saturated and delayed lead guitars soared over the orchestra creating a wall of sheer power. By the final build up you could have been mistaken for being at a Neurosis show such was the sheer intensity that came from the front. Very few bands have I seen bring it with that level straight on the first song.
We were told by security that during the first song flashes could be used (when does that EVER happen) and unfortunately mine was left at home due to the normal non flash policies larger venues ask you adhere to. How I regretted this as the lights were kept to a bare minimum to maintain the atmosphere. Not only that but we were told we could stay down the front pit for the whole set providing we put flashes away after said first song. This privilege felt almost too intruding during the quieter moments though. Despite the size of the Koko it felt very small and intimate with the hushed atmosphere during the quieter moments. After the second song Burial At Sea finished I decided to venture back and watch the rest of the performance from the main crowd.
Silent Flight, Sleeping Dawn started and I was beginning to wonder if despite Hymn to the Immortal Wind coming out 2 years ago we were going to witness the whole album. However Are you There? from 2006’s You Are There started for their fourth track and dispelled any thoughts of entire album renditions being aired.
It was at this point I wished that i’d stayed down in the photo pit. During the beautiful melancholic string pieces towards the end of the track it seemed most of the audience were chatting away around me. Maybe this is why i shoot photos and don’t normally get asked to write pieces but seriously WHAT THE HELL people? If you want to chat stand at the back near the bar or F*CK off and go to the pub. Monumental sounds backed with some seriously atmospheric lighting were ruined by the chatter all around me. This continued throughout the minimalist notes of Where Am I. I stood there like some schizophrenic one minute in awe at the sheer awesomeness coming from the stage and the next wanting to take an AK to everyone around me.
By the time Halcyon (Beautiful Days) was a few bridges in all was forgotten as I was drawn into the searing guitars backed by Tamaki’s thudding bass. Like Explosions In The Sky’s Memorial this is a true masterclass in postrock songwriting. Layer upon layer build up teasing away and just as you think the song is peaking it breaks down back to basic drums and rhythm. Drawing the slower part out you are just waiting for everything to go mental and when it finally crashed down oh how it did.
This song alone could easily have been a reason for the orchestra collaboration to happen Cello echoed through the bass, gongs were smashed, strings flew as 8 or 9 bows were seen dancing away up and down behind the amps, the delayed guitar thrashed away until Takaakira finally pulled away holding up a triumphant hand cast in shadows as the sound disappeared from stage only to be met with an even louder sound as the audience showed there appreciation clapping and cheering, one audience member screaming down Arigato from the balconies much to the amusement of everyone. Absolutely amazing and an experience that will truely never be forgotten.
Curfew was 11 but by around 10.30 after 1 and a half hours the set closed with Everlasting Light and the night was over far too quickly. If Mono come back again I will be there as quick as a heartbeat. For those who did not go you missed something truly special and I can only suggest you make sure you catch them next time.
Here’s some videos people have posted on youtube, though they don’t do it any kind of justice…
and another view, love how excited the guy is that they’re playing this, but realising public transport means he’s going to have to head off straight afterwards…
Leave A Comment