If you’re not bopping along to these with dance moves to rival Jon and Tilian’s display on the live stream you’re definitely doing it wrong. The party-vibe reaches pure ecstasy by the time fan favourites Summertime Gladness and Inspire The Liars roll around. But you know what? It oddly works in a way that only Dance Gavin Dance could possibly pull off. The former sees a full-on #blessthismess moment with Jon Mess going completely off-piste with the lyrics screaming “blah blah blah blah blah” in place of the original lines. On Tree City Sessions 2 they get a new lease of life sounding better than they ever have. Macy and Awkward appear for the first time since 2015. Whilst the two singers have their own distinct styles and approaches to Blue Dream, Pearson absolutely knocks this one out of the ballpark to the point that it sounds like it was written for him.
With the original version of the song from the Johnny Craig era of the band, this is the first recorded performance of the song featuring Tilian Pearson on lead vocals. This coupled with the musical chops of Swan, Wells, Mingus and Feerick driving the various musical landscapes of the song is magical.īlue Dream is one of the big highlights of the album and a real treat for the fans. The harmonies and different dynamic that each singer brings to the song is truly something to behold. Here the band slows down affairs momentarily with Eidola’s Andrew Wells leading the band off on vocals before Pearson and Mess join the bands’ three-pronged vocal attack.
When it comes to genre-defying fusion shenanigans, no one does it better or more seamlessly than DGD, so there’s no surprise when things switch up next with the jazzy infused Uneasy Hearts Weigh The Most. Whether it’s Will Swan’s godlike finger-tapping or the unique clash of vocals between Tilian Pearson and Jon Mess. The mixing of the various styles that Dance Gavin Dance is known for sounds incredible whilst also still retaining the vibe and energy of the visual live stream. Opening with The Backwards Pumpkin Song, what’s apparent from the beginning is the quality of the recording and the musicianship across the board. Now, fan-voted polls for songs are always a big risk but unlike that time Metallica let fans pick the songs which scored the usual setlist (facepalm!), DGD fans made sure that the tracklisting featured an eclectic mix of tracks from the bands extensive back catalogue – including several which haven’t been performed by for years. And, the best part is that all of the tracks that made the cut were voted for by the fans. Whilst the digital release sadly doesn’t have holographic versions of Jon Mess and Tilian Pearson throwing down triple spins, foot shuffling or doing robot dances in their fantastic dinner jackets, the soundtrack is still equally as thrilling and crushing as a stand-alone release. The fact that it’s now immortalised forever as an album to blast on repeat is literally the best news ever. Can you!?Īnyway, if you caught the live stream, you already know what a hell of a show this was. We genuinely can’t imagine any UK band being able to convince Sadiq Khan to have the likes of Tower Bridge or the London Eye shutdown in the name of Metal. Word has it that the Mayor of the city had to approve the gig on the bridge which is pretty bonkers in itself.
They only went and got Sacramento’s Tower Bridge shutdown (aka the US equivalent of the iconic bridge in London of the same name) so they could throw down Tree City Sessions 2 live stream and album – the follow up to 2016’s Tree City Sessions live album. Cons: None but if we’re being super picky the setlist should have been just a bit longer.Īt the end of December 2020, Dance Gavin Dance blew anyone (and everyone!) out of the live streaming arena. Overall Score: 9/10 Setlist: 9/10 Performance: 9/10 Tilian Pearson’s Dinner Jacket and Dancing: 11/10 Pros: Carries the torch forward from the original Tree City Sessions | Sets a new standard for live streams/live albums across the board.