Final Fantasy @ Tonic, NYC | pics

June 27, 2006

“An interesting direction of the evolution of the tape loop is the looping pedal – a digital sampler built into an easy-to-use footswitch-operated pedal of the kind most often used by guitarists to create looping layers of melody or texture during a live performance. A noteworthy example of this melodic layering effect is Ian Williams’ dense, complex layers of guitar on Don Caballero‘s American Don (free MP3s available here and here). Some popular digital looping pedals (which can be used on any instrument, but are primarily used by guitarists) are the Line 6 DL4 (used by, among others, Jazz guitarists Bill Frisell and John Scofield), the Boomerang Phrase Sampler (used by Phish‘s Trey Anastasio), and the Boss Loop Station.” [Wikipedia]

Final Fantasy, and all his looping pedals, played a short, but very sweet set at Tonic in NYC Saturday night that left me (and the whole crowd) wanting more, more, more. (Did he play for just 45 minutes?). Gentleman Reg opening was a bonus. Alex Luchevosky played between them – he’s got that M.Ward-Nina Simone thing going on, which sounded good at times, but mostly I just couldn’t wait for Final Fantasy to come on.

“Much as I like Final Fantasy, I must confess that I never actually suspected that a lone Canadian on the stage with a violin could be one of the best shows I’ve seen all year. But my god, man. Owen Pallett is just simply enthralling, from the moment one, to moment one-hundred. He had me so transfixed that, for the duration of his set, I momentarily forgot that I was standing in the wet, subtropical ground-floor basement known as Tonic.” [Catbirdseat]

“Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy) does everything live on stage. He records each layer of song right there, loops it, plays over it, and everything on the violin, he beats on it, slaps the strings with the back of the bow, plucks it, screams bits into the distortion mike attached to it, etc, etc.” [That’s Plenty]

“Last night at the Final Fantasy show at Tonic, Dylan and I were attacked by a chubby frizzy-haired drama major and her boyfriend as they blatently ignored the unspoken but obvious set of rules that exist at small New York shows.” [That’s Plenty]

“good stuff at tonic last night. His show is just like Gryff from SFA with the loops and stuff. Gentlemen Reg was nice and twee-like. Only complains are the sets were short and he didn’t play “he poo clouds” or “the artic circle.” oh well.” [cheeri-o]