Concert Review: Spoon (Sep 3 2022, Asheville NC)
Known for putting on a spirited and memorable show, Spoon’s September 3rd performance at Rabbit Rabbit was alive, dynamic, and tight. The band is touring on their latest record Lucifer on the Sofa, which has received mostly positive reviews 26 years after their 1996 debut Telefono. Since this album is widely considered a return to form (if ever there was a departure), it’s fitting that this show felt so self-assured. The band confidently played cuts from their entire discography and weaved them together in a way that would appeal to fans of different eras of Spoon. If there’s a critique, it’s that Spoon has stayed so committed to their sound that songs can start to run together.
Spoon at Rabbit Rabbit. Photo by Dave Baker
They captivated the crowd with arpeggiated and harp-emulating synths layered with tinny, robotic sounding drum machines on “Inside/Out” (off of their 2014 comeback They Want My Soul). This was a song that felt refreshingly out of character for Spoon at the time of its release but now is one of their best known tracks and one of the most welcome additions to their live set. It broke up what could have become a sonically homogenous set.
Ultimately, this was a career-spanning performance appealing to loyal Spoon fans as well as a lively sales pitch for first-time listeners. Frontman Britt Daniel (the only remaining founding band member besides Jim Eno) was engaging and seemed to be having the time of his life. For a show with doors opening at 4:30 and a band that played exclusively before the sun set, Spoon brought the energy. — Annelise Kopp
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.