THE THE at the Tabernacle
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CRITIC’S PICK: The The, Tabernacle — Touring in support of “Ensoulment,” The The’s first album in 25 years, this Friday night’s show marks only the second Atlanta appearance by the band since the release of its breakthrough LP, “Soul Mining,” in 1983. At the time of that album’s release, The The’s founder, leader, sometimes sole member Matt Johnson told me hoped the album would come to be regarded in much the same way as the first Velvet Underground album, “The Velvet Underground & Nico,” in that it would resonate with listeners in a way that would influence their thoughts and ideas about themselves and the world at large. While the synth-heavy recording, with the two nominal hits, “This Is The Day” and “Uncertain Smile” certainly had an influence on the pop music of the day, it is the four albums released between 1983 and 1992 — “Soul Mining,” “Infected,” “Mind Bomb,” and “Dusk” — taken collectively that have provided a lasting legacy for Johnson and The The, no matter the form it takes.
During that time, Johnson confronted his demons, the world’s ills and the fate of all of us at the hands of dictators, fascists, religious zealots and angry gods.
“Ensoulment,” while not as angry, nor as critical as those releases, continues to question the world’s decay, but also offers Johnson at his most introspective, looking inward at love, loss, and life’s time passages, all the while still offering a fierce condemnation of the new social norms fomenting complacency in this new century.
Matt Johnson is joined by some band memberswho’ve aided and abetted him throughout The The’s career, as well as some new faces, including Barrie Cadogan, guitar; D.C. Collard, keyboards; James Eller, bass; and Chris Whitten, drums. — Tony Paris
From the venue:
“Johnson’s spine-chilling delivery, low and resonant, has both cheek and insight”
– SPIN
“The band, comprising stalwarts James Eller and DC Collard, as well as more recent recruits Barrie Cadogan and Chris Whitten, are of course led by Johnson, whose voice soars as he approaches what just may prove to be another imperious phase of his incredible career.”
– RECORD COLLECTOR
“As I leave the venue I feel, along with arguably 5000 others, that we have not simply been entertained, but actually understood by the figure on stage, an exchange between an artist and audience that like sincerity, is impervious to improvement or change.
– THE QUIETUS
“The term genius is banded around all too liberally to the point it has lost all meaning for some. When it comes to The The’s Matt Johnson, however, this label is more than fitting. Even after a career spanning over 40 years, the frontman and multi-instrumentalist still cuts an enigmatic figure somewhere between an artist and prophet, he has aroused excitement at every stage of his varied career.”
– MANCHESTER EVENING NEW
“The number of huge songs in the second set defied belief… massive tunes such as ‘Infected’ and ‘This is the Day’ were an absolute pleasure to hear live.”
– SCOTTISH MUSIC NETWORK
“Sultry jazz club blues, creeping cabaret, bowed guitar atmospherics”
– THE TIMES