For Their Tour Finale, The Glitch Mob Pulls Out All The Stops (Show Review)
–Reviewed by Michael Hogan
My biggest failing as a human being is how cranky I become when I’m tired; I become the most unpleasant person in the world. I’ve been working on it recently, and I’m starting to realize when I need to be put to bed, but I still make stupid choices every now and then. My most recent objectively poor choice was going out right after spending the better part of a week working a festival, not sleeping and overworking myself in near freezing conditions.
Mere hours after my return to DC from Nightmare Festival I was headed Echostage to see The Glitch Mob. I had grabbed a bite to eat, but I hadn’t yet gone home; I was still wearing my mud covered jeans from the rain-soaked final night of Nightmare. This, I reasoned, was one of those situations that begged me to suspend any logic and reason – not to mention the impending crankiness that my friends and unsuspecting strangers would be forced to bear the brunt of.
But none of that mattered, because I knew this was a show that couldn’t be missed. I had caught The Glitch Mob earlier in the year on the first leg of their tour in support of their newest album, Love Death Immortality. I’d been waiting for years to see these guys, and their live production (dubbed “The Blade”) made for an astounding show that certainly made the wait worth it. Fast forward to November 2nd and the opposite end of the tour and there we were, ready to see if it could possibly get better.
Their live production rig integrated a theatrical yet functional set up of MIDI pads, drum sequencers, and an elaborate light show, all brought together as a massive three man instrument that allowed them to meld the visual and human aspects of the performance that has always been so important to The Glitch Mob. It was the same amazing setup they brought with them back in March, but this time it felt so much tighter, so much more impressive. It could have been the extra practice, it could have been that Echostage was simply a venue that was much better suited to the magnitude of The Glitch Mob’s live presence.
Whatever the reason, this was a show that made me forget how tired I was or how early I needed to be up the next day, and everyone else seemed to feel the same way. It’s a rare occurrence that a Sunday night show after a long Halloween weekend would have such an unwavering energy level. In fact, it’s in the running for the best show I’ve ever been to at Echostage. I’ve been to shows there that hit harder, or shows that were packed to the brim, but this had a certain balance of musicality, performance, crowd participation, and energy that really made it something special.
While their tour may have ended, I’m sure this is far from the last we’ll be seeing of The Glitch Mob. This show cemented my opinion that this highly talented trio comprises one of the few acts that will make me drag my sorry ass through rain, sleet, and snow, not to mention make me ignore my need for things like sleep and food. Next time they’re in town, I suggest you follow my lead – this is not a show to miss.
In case you missed it (and even if you didn’t), be sure to check out our interview with Boretta from The Glitch Mob right here.