VNV Nation/Haujobb/Assemblage 23

Apr 21, Park West, Chicago

Photos available at vnv photo page

I have been lucky enough to see VNV 3 times during their last bout of touring. The first Future Perfect tour I saw at the metro in Chicago, then the Phantasy Theatre in Cleveland. Since they just couldn't seem to stay away from their american audiences, the Future Perfect tour came back round to Chicago again and I caught them at a venue called Park West. I had gotten some pictures from the Phantasy show on Thanksgiving of last year, and you can view them by clicking here. VNV, while being an electronic band made up of only two guys, doesn't suffer from the usual "front line assembly syndrome" in quite the way other bands do like And One, or Decoded Feedback. The syndrome, in case you aren't familiar, is the one guy tweaking knobs and the other guy singing, resulting in not much of a live show at all. VNV knows how to build energy in an audience and use it to their advantage. I have witnessed at every VNV show I've been to, a scene not unlike a religious revival; people putting their hands up in the air, hanging on Ronan's words, elated and in a trance-like state, clapping and dancing. VNV is one of the few electronic bands today that really has something to say; a point to make. Since Sept 11, many people have sought refuge in their words and melodies, and can easily identify their own feelings in the songs. VNV is like therapy, taking emotions which are troubling, bringing them to light and working through them in a constructive manner. The music just has this way of uplifting you, and whether you come away from it feeling joy, or strength or sadness, it changes you and makes you think. Thank god that for once there is a band out there who can make us dance, make us feel, force us to examine ourselves and our world, and is headed by a couple of very real, good hearted guys who respect their fans. It's about damn time. If it wasn't for assholes like clear channel and the obsession with drivel pop, we'd most likely be hearing these guys on the radio because they do have a radio appeal. And, unlike pretty much everyone on the radio, these guys deserve to get played. On all three tours, VNV had their stage set up with two video screens on each side, with Mark's drum kit in the middle. For the park west show, they had two additional screens off of the sides, larger than the two onstage. The screens were a great effect, and really tied the show together. Famous figures, tornadoes, clouds, buildings, lyrics, and the VNV logo swam all over the screens throughout the show. I've heard some people comment on being annoyed with the VNV logo being so prominent everywhere and "these guys must have huge egos". my response is: #1 Most bands tend to have a logo or banner of sorts onstage no matter who they are, this isn't an abnormal thing. #2 to be a musician, or anyone who is in the spotlight you have to have a little ego to carry you, otherwise you'll get knocked down by stupid comments made by people who have no clue what you are really about. Musicians are supposed to take pride in what they do. #3, Ronan and Mark are good guys. if you want an example of Ego, go see APOP. Find out why they canceled 2 shows and almost ditched a third. Ask around around how the band treated some people and the messes they made backstage and the contracts they tried to weasel out of at the last minute. Find their rider. Then tell me that they don't have a rock star attitude. Ronan is actually kind of shy-ish. Mark is a great guy, but damn is he tall. I introduced myself to Mark as a twin of one of our mutual friends, and I got a huge (I mean huge) hug from him. He also came around later to ask how I liked the show and was a very friendly guy. While I don't remember the bands that opened at the first two shows I saw, we were lucky enough to have Assemblage 23 and Haujobb with VNV at Park West. I love A23, and I knew every song so I had a rough time not dancing around and thwacking people. A23 is a band that gives a much more emotional and personal version of their music on stage. You can tell the singer is working out a lot of his own feelings with his work. A23 does some of the best dark synthpop I've heard, and their music is so club friendly it's sickening. We heard several tracks from off of Failure, including Disappoint, and Naked, along with Purgatory from Contempt. We also got to hear a track called Document from their upcoming CD which is due out in Sept. A23 could easily headline their own show. You must see these guys if you haven't. Hajuobb was also good, but harsher than either VNV or A23, and it was hard to understand the singer when he spoke. They did a great job, and got people moving, but their lighting display was positively blinding and aimed way too low. I had to turn around for most of their set to keep my retinas from burning. VNV got a warm, ecstatic reception from the crowd. They started out with the first track from Future Perfect, with a corresponding countdown on the screens. They tend to start out with Kingdom and follow it with Procession, then Epicenter, Carbon, and Darkangel, or something thereof, all the while building the energy. Ronan did not perform Forsaken on the previous round (except in Toronto from what I heard) because he said he didn't want the song to lose meaning for him. While I respected his decision, I felt it was something that I and many others needed to hear, especially after the events of 911 and the subsequent net video that featured the song. However, without even asking for it at Park West, we got to hear it and it was amazing. Ronan made a comment that you're not supposed to go to electro shows to cry, but it's hard to not be moved during such a real confession of pure emotion as this song so painfully portrays. It was a catharsis, and yes, I cried, having lost someone years ago who should have been standing next to me at this concert. Ronan was greeted with screams of thank you afterward. He followed Forsaken with Further, another absolute favorite and contemplative tear jerker, then came songs like Genesis, Standing, Beloved (the second chapter of Forsaken and just as moving) and the VNV anthem, Solitary. They also played what I consider the most energizing of the new songs, Fearless. Everyone was bouncing off the walls by then. Also played were Legion, and a special performance of a dancey instrumental off of Future Perfect...the name of which escapes me. It was a great addition. For the last encore, Ronan called A23 back out and we applauded them again. It was good to see VNV giving such a deserving band recognition. A23 then reperformed Naked, with VNV. it was wonderful and totally spontaneous, as Ronan did backing vocals and overlapped "I have never wanted more" into the lyrics. Thinking about the whole experience makes me drool. I love VNV's blend of melody, noise and dance beat. They make their music in such a way that you can recognize their thumbprint, but every song has its own soul. If you haven't seen them let me tell you now that a cd doesn't do them justice. You come away from a show with so much energy, even when you've been dancing your ass off for the last hour or so. The antics are always interesting, as at least once during every show, Ronan has been singing into someone's cellphone, or trying on a hat someone throws him, or flinging glow sticks. At the Park West venue, the show was all ages and I saw a few 1o year old kids on their parents shoulders enjoying VNV just as much as the rest of us. If VNV stays on this path, they will be a band for the ages. I and everyone I've talked to has had a great time at these VNV shows. Please support these guys. Get to see them if you can. You will not be disappointed.

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