Boris @ The Knitting Factory, 3.4.08

Text/Photos by Andrew Parks

The last time I saw Boris (in October at the Bowery Ballroom’s Billyburg doppelganger) I left before Japan’s finest underground extremists could finish. Looking back on it now, I’m not sure why. Maybe it was because the ever-lovely Dean & Britta had already lulled me into the first stages of sleep. That or the simple fact that Boris weren’t nearly as devastating as last night’s one-off gig at New York’s Knitting Factory. The main reason being that Boris’ music takes on an eardrum-blowing, all-out-sensory-assault quality in a small venue. Seriously—I’ll be shouting without realizing it for the next couple days due to the incessant ringing that’s eclipsing my every thought.

All that permanent damage was worth it, though, largely thanks to the Smile selections Boris gleefully previewed before a sold-out audience. That goes for everything from the echo chamber build of “Flower Sun Rain” to the “woo hoo!” harmonies and glam rock flare-ups of “Statement,” the album’s first single. The fact that they bookended the set with the first (”Farewell,” the closest the trio’s come to aping My Bloody Valentine) and last (the epic, riff-raking “Just Abandoned Myself”) tracks of Boris’ veritable breakthrough LP, Pink, seemed to seal the deal for nearly everyone in attendance.

Oh yeah—Ghost guitarist Michio Kurihara reprised his Rainbow role by smearing effects-laden chords over every song. Hire this guy full-time already!

Presenting photos and mixed media after the jump …

“Statement”

MP3: “Statement”

MP3: “Akuma No Uta”

5 Responses to “Boris @ The Knitting Factory, 3.4.08”

1. s on March 5th, 2008 8:13 am

   “Just Abandoned Myself” was actually 2nd last. They closed with “Full Song” (I don’t know if thats the actual title) which ends their new album. Its about 20 minutes long. Does anyone know the whole setlist? There was a really catchy pop sounding song in the middle of the set which I’ve never heard. I don’t think its on the new album.

2. admin on March 5th, 2008 8:26 am

   Oh, right on. Yeah, that song in the middle of the set had shades of disco in it. It was certainly catchy and, err, unexpected.

3. infat.mouse on March 5th, 2008 9:21 am

   “Maybe it was because the ever-lovely Dean & Britta had already lulled me into the first stages of sleep.”

   I was at that show, and I’m pretty sure it was Damon and Naomi.

   Whatever. Nice pictures!

4. joydivided on March 5th, 2008 9:10 pm

   Boris kind of annoyed the shit out of me when I caught them quite a bit back. But then again, it might have been because the show was at The Annex.

5. combatrocker on March 6th, 2008 6:14 pm

   Amazing show, the best I’ve seen them!
   Here’s the setlist:

   Farewell
   Rainbow
   BUZZ-IN
   Laser Beam/Shoot
   Pink
   Message->Statement (intro was like the former, quickly became the latter)
   Floorshaker
   My Neighbor Satan/Next Saturn
   You Put Up Your Umbrella
   Just Abandoned Myself
   Untitled/Full Song

   Contrary to the above review, they didn’t play “Flower Sun Rain”.

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