Villagers

I don't see a thread for Villagers yet so here's one in honour of the lovely Irish lads who have been treating us to some amazing music on the current Elbow tour.

I wasn't really aware of them until this tour. I did recognise Becoming A Jackal when they played it, though if I hadn't known otherwise I would have sworn it was Bowerbirds - the verses in particular are distinctly Bowerbirds-y.

I've listened to the album in full since then and loving it more and more with each listen. Also helped by the fact that I (very luckily after MEN) know first hand what charming and friendly guys Conor and the gang are.

Definitely one of the bands I am aching to see achieve the success they clearly deserve!

I've just ordered the CD from Amazon - I'm sure it'll be brilliant.

It is a fantastic album, I was delighted when I found out they were supporting, it was one of my favourite albums last year without question

MrsW and I were very fortunate to catch Villagers last October, when they played a small, intimate gig in Lancaster Library, of all places. And by library, I mean IN the library itself - bookshelves cleared out of the way to create a stage and auditorium.

We were so close to the band, you could have reached out and touched Conor's face (though it's probably best not to do this as it tends to creep performers out).

IMHO, 'Becoming A Jackal' should have won the Mercury last year. I don't like making predictions, but the quality of Conor O'Brien's songs suggests to me he is going to be around a long time.

Fully agree mrwoman
We saw them at Academy 3 last November and they were excellent. Bigger than Lancaster Library but still only a few hundred in there and everyone was in awe of Conor's stage presence.

So who's coming with me to see them in Shepherds Bush on 21st May?

EDIT: Oops, I went on a bit of a Villagers spree. Just got tickets for Shepherds Bush, and also the Eden Sessions on 1st July with Fleet Foxes. It's gonna be ace!

I thought they sounded amazing at Nottingham. The clarity of the lead singer's voice really good. They did a live lounge a few weeks ago with Jo Wiley which is worth a listen on the BBC iplayer.

Villagers are nice. I'm glad there's a thread for them now.

Mr Woman wrote:

MrsW and I were very fortunate to catch Villagers last October, when they played a small, intimate gig in Lancaster Library, of all places. And by library, I mean IN the library itself - bookshelves cleared out of the way to create a stage and auditorium.

Bet that was pretty special!! What was the sound like? (Given I doubt the library was built for acoustics...)

I saw Conor play at Hop farm last summer so was looking forward to him and Villagers as support.
i've put some of the clips i tookof them at 02 on my youtube page.










going to upload a bit of 'Home' too.

Kim wrote:

Bet that was pretty special!! What was the sound like? (Given I doubt the library was built for acoustics...)

Oh, it was! The sound was actually really good - very warm and full - though the audio on these doesn't quite do it justice especially on the second one. We were right up front, but Conor's delivery was as clear live as on the album and the band were spot on.


The only video I got was just a minute of Jackal because they were just too good to miss faffing with a little stills camera, plus these are much clearer anyway! Extra points if you can spot me & the OH.



The set:

Ahh, envy!!

I think I'm too late to the game for the really small venues which is a real shame.

It was quite a coup even then for the Lancashire scheme who booked them well before the Mercury noms, "Get It Loud In Libraries". It's a great way to get younger people in and show 'em it's not all Mills & Boon and easy listening CDs.

The Eden gig sounds excellent though; FLEET FOXES!

Yeah, hoping it'll be good. I've been to the Eden Project before but not seen any gigs there - it looks massive!

Wow, that is some photo! Gorgeous.

Same here, visited through the day but never for a gig. It looks like it might give the same sort of atmosphere you get at Delamere for the Forestry Commission ones.

I think you might be right - open air, warm night, surrounded by green things...

Eden is so special and beautiful love it there, a lot bigger than Delamere!

For those in Dublin, Conor is playing with Beach House which is a damn fine lineup!!
23rd July! I looked for flights from London but it's £100 with an extra £100,000 for a bag

http://musicscene.ie/2011/03/villagers-plus-special-guests-beach-house-live-at-marlay-park/

Ahhh... wish the flights were cheaper!!

I saw Villagers with Sparky at Academy 3, it was brilliant and they were amazing.....even more amazing because it was the first time I had heard any of their songs, despite spending at least 3 weeks before the Gig listening to their Album, which quite embarassingly turned out to be NOT their album at all, but one by "The Boy Who Trapped The Sun".

I stood there song by song in dreaded realisation that I had completely made a pigs ear of my preparation, discussing songs with Sparky that I thought I'd heard and he thought I'd heard!!! I suspect he was just too polite at the time to point out that he had no idea what i was rabbiting on about. However it provided him and our mate with a good laugh at my expense come the night of the gig......Bugger

My daughter quite liked them at the MEN supporting elbow, though I have my doubt's that its the music she liked and more the boyish good looks of a certain Mr O'Brien grrrrrrrrrrr

I can't say I necessarily blame her. Conor is quite cute. :3

Thanks for that Neon the thing is I notice you are listed as 21, where as my daughter is 12 going on 21
I can't quite get on board the womanhood bus quite yet!!!!

Baha! I understand how that is; I used to be that way when I was her age.

The first night of the tour last night and Villagers came to Preston (15 minutes away for me n mrs sparky, makes a change not having to travel )

Opening with Cecelia, playing most of the album (what's happened to "That Day"? not heard it recently), "Grateful Song", which I hadn't heard before, and encoring with "In A New Found Land", "Memoir" and "On A Sunlit Stage", they are sounding better than ever.

I've seen them 4 times now, twice headlining and twice supporting elbow, and for obvious reasons it's been better when it's been their own show. Highlights for me were "Home", "Pieces" and "The Pact" but it's all good.

Excellent support from Michele Stodart (I've posted separately on this)

If you get the opportunity, go and see them on this tour...I thoroughly recommend it.

I hope I can see them on Saturday, that'd be amazing. Just got a hold of Becoming A Jackal

I just bought the album too and am loving it! I wish I appreciated them more while seeing them support Elbow. It's nice that they're on tour again though - I'm also considering getting a ticket to one of their upcoming shows!