They're quite lovely, Mercury Rev. For this writer, a Saturday night at Zebulon, Los Angeles, represented the first time witnessing the Buffalo, NY psychedelic outfit in the flesh, and the experience was an eye-opener.
Last year's Born Horses is Mercury Rev's 10th studio album, though they only played one song from it at Zebulon (the esoteric "Ancient Love"). Rather, we five songs from 1998's beloved Deserter's Songs.
That's fair enough; that album is a bonafide classic and the likes of "Goddess on a Hiway," "Holes," and "Opus 40" are hair-raisingly beautiful. Like peers The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev takes you on a journey that at least feels like its transcending music.
Jonathan Donahue's voice is a big factor; emotive, authentic and beautiful, he's a compelling frontman. His musical partner is Sean "Grasshopper" Mackowiak, the only other mainstay, and Grasshopper's guitar sound is recognizable in a manner similar to Reeves Gabrels.
The show, while relatively short with just 11 songs, was incredibly sweet.
