By Jase Walker
It’s no secret that I have been massively indulging in post-rock this year, right from the start. Even now I’ve had plate after plate of top quality post-rock and I am still hungry for more and I get another exquisite helping in the form of Japan’s MONO playing at Melkweg in the main MAX room. It’s notable that on this date it’s just themselves, no support or pre-programme which although not unusual for the venue, it is however for their largest room…
Tonight’s show unfortunately doesn’t quite seem to have reached a high enough count to open the balconies which I’m a bit miffed about as I wanted a nice high perch to watch the band from. Either way, I’ve got myself my other preferred spot which lies up some steps fairly close to the stage for at least some chance of not being caught behind several ridiculously tall Dutchmen.
MONO essentially opted for more or less zero introduction, silently walking into the stage bang on time with no build up or anything. A quick “We are MONO from Tokyo, Japan” and that’s all we get before things properly start.
As I’ve noticed before with post-rock crowds, especially here in the Netherlands, the crowd goes so quiet you can hear small coughs all the way at the back of the venue. While this may not be the absolutely rammed show that HANABIE had last night, this is still a solid turnout for a show of reverence for one of the best post-rock bands in the world right now. The crowd slowly sways and nods their heads along to the pulse of the sound that MONO creates, silently getting lost in the wonderful layers of complexity that they’re creating as the show gets into the flow of things.
Compared to the last time I saw these, I’m not sure if it’s the venue or where I’m standing exactly but good god it is so much more loud and forceful than before. Each part of the four pieces rings clear yet strong, the guitars saturated in effects surround me from all angles while the bass and drums pound through the floor and up through my feet into my legs. This is a very different show to the previous time at Utrecht’s Tivoli along with an orchestral element which felt much more restrained and subtle; this time feels much more rock.
The fact that the music is (almost entirely) instrumental, doesn’t stop the translation of feelings and emotion to the audience. Some dance, some cry, some hold their loved ones close and others close their eyes and just get lost in the flow of the music. This is one of my absolute favourite things about many post-rock acts, the band themselves don’t really have to directly interact with the crowd, do some mad shit on stage or deliver emotionally charged lyrics, the music itself stands on its own and provides the vehicle to embrace the musical journey they want to take the audience on.
It’s also notable how the production is… well, nothing. By that I mean other than the band and their kit on stage, more or less everything else is in-house lighting and even then it’s fairly minimal and choreographed enough to match the music but what you see is what you get.
The band themselves are almost entirely focused on what they’re playing, not totally unusual for a post-rock show admittedly, it’s kind of par for the course but I could imagine someone attending a show like this for the first time might be a bit confused. For me though, I’m just standing here, a huge grin across my features and just fully engrossed and lost in the overall experience of it all… it’s as fucking beautiful as it is powerful. Switching things up for a bit the bass player moves to the piano and one of the guitarists begins using a drum stick as a sort of bow to coax a wailing strings effect out of his guitar while they move to a bit more of a chilled pace.
When the gigantic gong at the back finally gets used to wrap up an epic peak of one of the final few songs it’s like the entire crowd was waiting for that one moment as the applause and cheering suddenly became so much more intense after it’s use.
We’re at the end of the show, with one last hurrah for an encore and post-rock shows always remind me that there’s a very different pace for some music shows. It doesn’t always have to be some massive energetic affair that gets the adrenaline pumping and wanting to get all up in everyone else’s business in the pit, it can be a calming and beautiful musical journey that’s designed to be absorbed in whichever way you deem fit.
Of course MONO have their more intense moments where the overwhelming force of layered and looped effects builds towards an ever more forceful peak but it’s an incredible experience all the same. Barely any words exchanged for the whole show, almost exclusively an introduction and then a farewell. The rest of the show and story was delivered via the brilliantly crafted sonic experience that MONO has created.
Every single time I get to see these is a privilege, the whole experience in its own right is an art form. It may have just been themselves with an early start and finish by most standards but the fact that I can stand here and witness this is something I would never take for granted. And you bet your arse I’ll be seeing them wherever I can next year too: looking at you ArcTanGent and Pelagic Fest.