Ben Howard, 3Arena 25/1/2019
I first became aware of Ben Howard around 2012, the hype around him following his early releases was immense. 2014 brought the release of "I forgot where we were," an album which was as accessible as it was different.2018's Noonday Dream was another left turn for Howard, a dreamy fifty minute experimental album which can go from beautiful landscapes of sound to frustrating climaxes that weren't worth the wait.
The self indulgence of Howard's latest release was mirrored in his live show. Audience interaction was kept to a minimum, with Howard stopping about 40 minutes into his set to thank the crowd. The audience themselves generally struggled to engage with what was happening before them, and I can't blame them.
Frustration was noticably building amongst the more casual listeners in the audience. There was a constant stream of people towards bathrooms, the bar, the smoking area and more worryingly, the exits. The monotonous syncopated delays and pulsing vocal failed to impress in a live setting. The choice of venue also raised a few questions.
Playing a venue the size of the 3Arena didn't help Howard, and the fact it wasnt near capacity wasn't beneficial either. Two nights in The Olympia probably would've helped with the intimacy as well as the impatience of the casual crowd.
The highlight of my night came long before the demands for refunds and the frustrated luas passengers, long before a section of the crowd sarcastically sang the tune of 'The Wolves.' The highlight of the night for me was the opening act, Hater. A beautifully caressing yet interestingly agressive shoegaze band who have huge potential. Ben Howard's attempt at the same was more Nosedive than Slowdive