Eternal Summers @ NAC
Undemanding, chilled out live music
There is no better place to see Eternal Summers than in a renovated gothic church. As Yun herself pointed out, the atmosphere was spooky. Dim, dusky lighting, a small, intimate gig and her resonant vocals provided an almost faultless combination for a laid back Monday night. Soft and hypnotic one minute, thick and velvety the next, powerful and commanding the next; you couldn't help but feel a bit spooked, if not sedated. I got the feeling that the drowsiness it aroused was a rather unfortunate and unintended side-effect of this. Nevertheless, Eternal Summers were made for live music; laid back, yet heavily immersed in their music they made for an enrapturing performance. They were comfortable on stage, attentive to their audience and at ease with one another. Playing a mix of their older music and a few tracks fresh from Gold and Stone they're definitely not the kind of band to stick safely to only one album and leave you feeling cheated; they showcase what they’ve got. In all, they deliver.
This was definitely not the kind of gig to go to if you’re looking for a hyper-active crowd, but rather an audience suffering from start of the week blues looking for some undemanding, chilled out live music. There’s something about seeing a band you like in a venue like the Norwich Arts Centre (shameless promotion aside, I’m a great lover of old buildings) that always leaves you feeling deeply satisfied, and this is no exception.
