Wile it may seem cliché, Spiritualized (@spiritualized) shows are truly spiritual experiences. Not only is the music steeped in that tradition, but for many, seeing J Spaceman on stage is cosmic in and of itself — it certainly was for the kid in the front row I saw sobbing.
The members of Spiritualized aren’t about showmanship: no banter, no dancing around, just music. Granted, the music is why people attend the concerts, and boy did the band deliver on those expectations. While the songs lasted upwards of ten minutes, they never got boring. Jason Spaceman’s lethargic moan perfectly complemented the giant sound that ricocheted off the walls in Terminal 5’s enormous ballroom.
With decades of music to draw from, the band played a little bit of everything, though they mostly stuck to material off their newest album. The transition from quiet drone to loud, climatic explosion remains their norm, and it couldn’t have sounded better.
The packed T5 was enraptured throughout every song, never taking their eyes away from the band. At times, it’s difficult to understand how the veteran space rockers, with their lengthy songs and muted stage activity, can maintain such a hold over the crowd, but they do. Maybe it’s the spiritual aspect — you can’t take your eyes off someone you worship, even if you aren’t quite sure why you worship them.
