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Neurosis made their return to Brooklyn Masonic Temple (pics, video, setlist)

photos by Greg Cristman; words by Andrew Sacher

“Back from Brooklyn. Full of Oasis falafel and grape leaves. Neurosis blew my mind and ears. Easily the loudest set I’ve seen a band play.” – @HolyShitJustin

Neurosis @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple 1/19
Neurosis

Neurosis made a triumphant return to NYC over the weekend when they headlined a sold out show at Brooklyn Masonic Temple on Saturday (1/19), the same spot they played with Mastodon the last time they were in NYC, almost exactly five years ago. Neurosis are now without their graphic artist, so the lack of visuals may have made the room bit less ominous than it was five years ago (not to say it wasn’t still totally life threatening) but the band still ripped like no other. Their 11-song, hour and a half encore-less set was bookended by two Through Silver in Blood tracks (“Eye” to open, “Locust Star” to close), and in between they focused entirely on their atmospheric, Steve Albini-produced era, relying most heavily on their two most recent albums, 2007’s Given to the Rising and 2012’s Honor Found in Decay.

People have varying definitions on what “heavy” music is, but if their albums don’t already, it’s undeniable that Neurosis’ shows carry the weight of the word. They tore through boulder-crushing chords, razor-in-throat screams, and a storm-approaching atmosphere that you could feel in your bones (and eardrums). Some moshed, others headbanged in place, and others just watched in awe as the band delivered. There were some moments to breathe during the set, like the post-rock passage of “My Heart For Deliverance” and the half-sung intro of “The Tide,” but moments like those are equal in intensity to the heavy sections, and are part of what keeps Neurosis so consistently interesting. They never let up during the set to talk to the crowd, and it was rarely ever silent, even while tuning their guitars. Just an onslaught of peaks and valleys that had command over the crowd throughout the entire set.

The show opened with an industrial drone set from No Fun boss Carlos Giffoni and an experimental guitar/drum/sampler duo set from James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida, who were both members of Khanate. More pictures from the show, Neurosis’ setlist, and a video of them playing “At the Well” (via (((unartig)))) below…

Carlos Giffoni

Carlos Giffoni

Carlos Giffoni

Carlos Giffoni

Carlos Giffoni

Carlos Giffoni

Carlos Giffoni

Carlos Giffoni

Carlos Giffoni

Carlos Giffoni

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida

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Neurosis – “At the Well” at Brooklyn Masonic Temple – 1/19/13

Neurosis – At the well from (((unartig))) on Vimeo.

Neurosis at Brooklyn Masonic Temple – 1/19/13 Setlist:
Eye
My Heart for Deliverance
At the End of the Road
Times of Grace
Distill (Watching the Swarm)
At the Well
The Tide
We All Rage in Gold
Bleeding the Pigs
Given to the Rising
Locust Star