Gig Watch: Birds of Tokyo - Broken Strings Tour

By Amy Mackenzie

Birds Of Tokyo

Birds Of Tokyo his Adelaide Town Hall last week, and an eclectic array of music fans took their seats and eagerly awaited a rare performance.

While expectations were high, none could truly anticipate the sheer genius of that which they were about to experience. Yes, I know 'genius' is a strong word to use... but I do not throw the word around willy-nilly. When I say genius, it is only when I think something truly special has been created.

It's ironic that such an electric performance could come from the removal of electrical equipment. But when Birds of Tokyo unplugged their guitars, and joined forces with a string quartet and a grand piano, a musical feast ensued. With the reworking of their latest album (and a few old favourites), Birds of Tokyo were able to take their music to an entirely new level.

Some songs were so differently arranged that they transcended their previous form and took on a new one. Off Kilter was a personal favourite and a perfect example of just how creative these guys can get. From the moment they started playing, you could tell they put of lot of time and effort into creating something special, original and completely unexpected.

The show opened with the string quartet performing a melody of Birds Of Tokyo songs, which seamlessly transitioned into each other. The first song played as a whole band was a lesser known one from their latest album - one that had never been a stand out track for me, yet this new arrangement gave me goosebumps.

That's right... it was that good.

I knew from that very first song that the rest of the show was going to be one of the most memorable gigs I would ever see. The gig was split in two by a short interval, and when they commenced the second half it was with a cover of Marvin Gaye's Heard it through the Grapevine (which was so strangely - yet brilliantly - rearranged that it took me a while to actually recognise it).

Ian Kenny originally started Birds of Tokyo as a side project (also fronting the band, Karnivool). Even though he spent the entire gig seated, he still managed to deliver a captivating performance - and there are very few people who could capture an audience from a seated position.

The show is set to me made into a DVD and CD. The release date is unknown, but I can't wait!