The last Saturday of August was also the last of Falling Mirror‘s ‘TRUTH Sessions’, a consecutive series of Saturday night shows at TRUTH Coffeecult in Buitenkant Street.
I’d never been to TRUTH before but had heard cool things, so was looking forward to checking it out. It’s a really cool venue, pretty industrial and with the steampunk machinery and vibe I’d heard a lot about before seeing it for myself.
The band started a bit after 8 and performed an extended set in 2 parts. I’d heard Nielen would be sporting a new look and mentally pictured him in a beret…I don’t know whether to feel impressed or concerned that my guess wasn’t too far from the mark. Part 1 saw him dressed somewhere between a priest and a despot. After the interval, he returned, still with his dog collar but this time looking more like an insurance-salesman.
Though rather ridiculous (but that’s to be expected), he pulled both outfits off perfectly, as I think only he could.
The band played the familiar hits (Johnny Calls the Chemist, Highway Blues, Time (is a thief) ) but the emphasis seemed to be on new material. I’ve often heard that they’re prolific songwriters and it definitely seems to be the case. Since the last time I saw them, in April, their setlist has changed significantly. Standouts to me of the new material include We don’t steal cars, Chemical Patrol and Pretty Dresses.
The band will be taking a break from live performances for the next while to focus on writing and recording new material, all the while still being the subjects of an ongoing documentary. I’m looking forward to seeing how it all develops.
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