Woven Hand at Debaser Medis, Stockholm, December 4. (photo from rockfoto.nu)
It’s a rare but wonderful thing when you can see the same band several times and yet be offered very different experiences every time. The first time I saw Woven Hand, it was just David Eugene Edwards alternating between a guitar and a banjo. The second time, he had found himself a drummer, and now, the third time, he was accompanied not only by his drummer and a second guitarist, but also by bassist Pascal Humbert from his old band 16 Horsepower. So as an old 16HP fan, I was in for a treat. And they didn’t disappoint. The sound was heavier than ever before, which gave the highly suggestive songs from the latest album a real edge. The only downside was that the massive sound drowned out Edwards’ vocals at times, and the real highlight for me was, after all, the first encore with just Edwards on stage, playing a couple of 16HP songs. The photo above does well to capture the mood of that part of the show. The only thing that bothered me was that some people got the idea to clap their hands through the intro to Black Soul Choir. I mean, seriously, despite the relative catchiness of that tune, this is not the kind of music you clap along with. Somebody posted a video of that first minute on YouTube in case you’d like to have a look. Anyway, all things considered, this was a terrific gig. I’ll be eagerly awaiting their return.
If you’re not already familiar with Woven Hand or 16 Horsepower, you’re missing out on some of the best music made since Joy Division were around. And don’t let yourself be put off by Edwards’ deeply religious lyrics. His approach is entirely different than that of any other Christian musician you’ve ever heard, and even I - the ultimate atheist - think it adds to the experience. For an introduction to 16HP via YouTube, check out this and this.
