Yann Tiersen in SF

On Friday night, I saw Yann Tiersen in concert along with Asobi Seksu. I've enjoyed Yann Tiersen's music in the past-- most notably, his movie scores for Amelie and Goodbye Lenin-- so I was happy to have the chance to hear him live.

Asobi Seksu delivered a dreamy, psychedelic opening act with plenty of synths, an art-pop lead singer, and some driving beats that made me think of Stereolab at times. And Yann Tiersen played a melodic but forceful hour of music with his band ... part French chanson, part post-rock bliss, and some wonderful moments where he played violin with his band driving behind him. His violin melodies are some of my favorites, and they evoke in me a nostalgia for a past that didn't occur in my own personal life, but makes me want to reminisce about it all the same (see "Goodbye Lenin" to see what i mean).

The only issue I had with all this wonderfulness was that the reverberating acoustics of the concert hall did not support the ear-shattering sonic intensity of the volume. That is to say: it was too loud, and I had to get some ear plugs from the bar. I don't understand why some venues turn up the volume so high in an environment made from wood and plaster and mirrors -- the loud volume bounces along the hard surfaces and often can turn into a din. Why not establish an acoustical environment that's more like a recording studio, with sound boards and bass traps and other room modifiers that allow you to hear the detail of the instruments without distorting them? I must be getting old.

At any rate, the music was great, and I think now I just want to listen to them on CD and adjust the volume and the EQ the way I want it...