Was it a celestial coincidence that we shot Explosions in the Sky, the band behind the soundtrack for the football film Friday Night Lights, at a venue next to a NFL stadium on a Friday night? The heavens must have aligned as these Austin-based post-rockers were greeted with adoration from a Steel City audience that generally finds itself at odds with the Lone Star State on the gridiron.
Explosions in the Sky, who kept their stage show minimal, filled Pittsburgh’s Stage AE with their airy-yet-dense orchestral brand of instrumental rock on April 8, 2011. Michael James and company thundered through ambient, mood shifting numbers from across their decade long catalogue. James, flanked by animated guitarist Munaf Rayani and the more stoic Mark Smith, anchored the group on stage as he switched between bass and guitar. An unidentified touring-only member pounded extra floor toms and filled-in on bass occasionally while lurking in the background next to drummer Chris Hrasky and behind a collection of vintage Fender amps. The crowd of approximately 1,600 revelers swayed and bobbed to the swirling waves of sound crashing around them. Explosions in the Sky verbally addressed the sea of people only twice – making mention of playing in Pittsburgh many years ago at the soon to be resurrected Mr. Roboto Project and thanking everyone for being a great audience.
Explosions in the Sky will release Take Care, Take Care, Take Care, their sixth studio album, on April 26, 2011 via TRL (Brooklyn-based Temporary Residence Limited, not the Daly-hosted countdown). Take Care, Take Care, Take Care, which comes with artwork that folds into a nifty, little house, is their first album in nearly four years – following 2007’s All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone.
Visit Explosionsinthesky.com for more on the new album and upcoming shows.
Words by Andy McNeil, Assistant Editor
All Photos by Nicole DeSantis
Upcoming tour dates:
04/30/2011 Los Angeles, CA – USA Hollywood
05/01/2011 Oakland, CA – Fox Theatre
05/03/2011 Austin, TX – The Backyard
05/04/2011 Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Pavilion
05/15/2011 Edinburgh, GBR – MV Picture House
05/16/2011 Dublin, IRL – Vicar St.
05/17/2011 Manchester, GBR – Manchester Academy
05/19/2011 London, GBR – Roundhouse
05/20/2011 Paris, FRA – Bataclan
05/22/2011 Berlin, DEU – Postbahnhof
05/23/2011 Koln, DEU – Essigfabrik
05/24/2011 Brussels, BEL – Ancienne Belgique
05/25/2011 Amsterdam, NLD – Paradiso
05/27/2011 Barcelona, ESP – Primavera Festival
05/29/2011 Bologna, ITA – Rocker Festival
06/09/2011 Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
06/10/2011 Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
06/11/2011 Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
06/12/2011 Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
08/11/2011 Oslo, NOR – Oya Festival
08/12/2011 Gothenburg, SWE – Way Out West Festival
08/13/2011 Gothenburg, SWE – Way Out West Festival
08/19/2011 Brecon Beacons, GBR – Green Man Festival
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