The piped-in Steely Dan song fades out and what little light there was in Red Flag’s spacious, packed venue goes dark. Over the speakers an announcer booms “Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready … let’s see some thuuuunnnddeeeerrrrrr” (those familiar will know the familiar phrase is the intro to the song “Sugar/Tzu”) and the fans erupt as black midi take the stage one by one.
The London-based band unceremoniously launched directly into the noisy, prog sounding “953,” then slide directly into the lighter, janglier “Speedway,” and then into the driving, manic “Welcome to Hell” the lead single from their May 2022 album Hellfire. To try and pigeonhole black midi into one or even two genres is impossible and it shouldn’t even be tried. Their style is everywhere and anywhere they want it to be. Their albums and concerts reflect that. And why not? The late teen/early 20s, rapt fans in attendance loved every minute of it, swaying, shouting, and even a little swooning.
The trio, made up of Geordie Greep, Cameron Picton, and Morgan Simpson and joined by Seth Evans are nearing the end of their one-month 15-city tour with St. Louis being their tenth stop.
Chicago-based Circuit des Yeux (Haley Fohr) opened the evening a little after 8 p.m. with about 20-25 minutes of her ethereal deep, contralto voice enthralling the crowd. With a keyboard/synth to assist, Fohr sang on a darkened stage save for one small spotlight, dressed in all black with sunglasses and a brimmed hat concealing all but her long tresses. By the end of her short set, she had everyone mesmerized with her powerful, dominating, swirling soul-stirring sounds.
For more photos please check out https://bit.ly/blackmidi23cz
black midi’s setlist: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/black-midi/2023/red-flag-st-louis-mo-43a7b31f.html
