SWANS + NORMAN WESTBERG – TAVASTIA, HELSINKI – 24/10/2023

por Emil Gil Bretón · 05/11/2023

The Beggar

The legendary band SWANS returned to Helsinki again after a long absence of six years. Michael Gira, founder and leader, played couple acoustic concerts in 2019 and 2022, but the full band had not made an appearance since 2017. The Americans led by Mr. Gira are on a European tour promoting their most recent full-length album «The Beggar” (2023, Young God). And they did not want to miss passing through one of their favourite European cities Helsinki, and at the same time playing in the concert hall where they have offered their last 3 concerts every time they set foot on Finnish soil, Tavastia. SWANS were accompanied by a familiar face as the opening act, their former guitarist and long-time collaborator Norman Westberg. Below these lines we tell you what happened that night in Tavastia:

NORMAN WESTBERG

The musician and guitarist only used three devices to give us a discreet and calm set lasting forty-five minutes: a guitar, an electronic effects box and a tiny hourglass.

With the guitar he maintained that minimalist touch that characterises him. Soft echoes were superimposed every time Norman manipulated the strings of the instrument patiently and without haste. With the electronic effects box he maintained uniformity while the delay was synchronised with the ambient loops, creating an ideal space for introspective meditation.

And with the hourglass he kept time at bay and at the same time this device was the visual element that we spectators were eagerly waiting for to run its course since it anticipated a change of rhythm and sound. Norman‘s set prepared us and at the same time relaxed us for what was coming with SWANS!

SWANS

And already in the first minutes of SWANS set, Mr. Gira told a fan that it was prohibited to photograph or record videos of the band. However, the fan put away her cell phone and dedicated herself to enjoying the moment in the company of her friends. This moment helped other fans relax and let themselves be carried away by the music in its different stages and feelings.

SWANS concerts are special. The group’s interpretation of the songs live is somewhat different from how they are heard on the album. In the live version there is a lot of room for improvisation, performance and experimentation: Mr. Gira served as master conductor and boss, indicating to each of the members which notes they can or cannot play; Kristof Hahn with his lap steel guitar created a sound so forceful and heavy that it could tear down walls like sheets of paper; Phil Puleo hit the drums so hard that everyone’s ears felt like they were going to explode; Christopher Pravdica with his bass was the backbone of the band’s thunderous live sound; Dana Schechter served as great sound support as she played bass, lap steel guitar and keyboards; and Larry Mullins served as a complement thanks to his great work with the percussion and the keyboards.

A long and exciting concert of almost three hours, and a total of 8 songs mostly belonging to the last two studio albums “The Beggar” (2023) and “leaving meaning.” (2019). That cold night in October, the American band gave us an out-of-this-world experience in Tavastia that did not waste a single minute. Michael Gira and company only need the audience encouragement and a handful of songs to revolutionise time and space. Once again SWANS offered us what they do best, playing industrial rock with an uncomfortable and sentimental nature. The best gift we have received in a long time!