How many pedals is too many?

The Charlatans and Ride grace the stage at Emo’s Austin

January 11th, 2024

Written by Lauren Hernandez

So I decided to go to The Charlatans and Ride show the other night at Emo’s Austin. It was January 11th and I had nothing better to do, plus I had a photo pass, so I couldn’t really pass it up. 

I entered the packed venue – a packed venue that doesn’t allow for moshing or crowd surfing, which didn’t really apply to the crowd that night but I feel that I have to mention it – about ten minutes before the first band. The crowd was your typical Austin-hipster-type crowd with hip millennials with their long undyed hair drinking IPAs (I don’t know how they can drink that shit.)

Anyways, I was asking around and trying to figure out which band was opening up the night and met a lovely couple who informed me that The Charlatans were on first. They told me all about how they’ve been following them since the eighties and just saw ‘em in Dallas the night before

So The Charlatans started the show with an almost 90 minute set – a bit too long for my taste, but who am I to complain? Honestly, I’d never listened to them before, and I thought that they were just alright, but the crowd was obsessed, and in the front half of the audience I couldn’t find a single person who wasn’t swaying or bobbing their head with the music.

The Charlatans played the entirety of their hit album “Between 10th And 11th” and then played even more hits, new and old. Their sound was backed by a heavy, groovy bass (thanks to Martin Blunt) and fantastic drums in every song, which highlighted the amazing talent that the band’s original drummer, Jon Brookes, brought for over twenty years. 

The keyboardist, Tony Rogers, was stellar as well, switching between two sets of keys, one being an old piano identical to the one in my grandmother’s house. On top of the band’s killer sound, the lead vocalist, Tim Burgess, was full of ecstatic energy. He acted like it was his first, or maybe last, time on stage and was constantly taking videos of the crowd, which was a bit odd but what do I know?

His voice was very, very British, which I should’ve expected, but honestly I really just wanted him to sing “Wonderwall” the whole time. Also, I couldn’t take my eyes off him and his sweater, which had geometric shapes that kept changing color. I still have no idea what color they were supposed to be but I guess it doesn’t really matter. 

With all of that in mind I realized that The Charlatans are just before my time. I couldn’t and still can’t understand the hype, but the people in the crowd truly dug it because they grew up with The Charlatans, and for that I am jealous. 

So half an hour later and Ride was on next. I fucking love Ride, I mean how can you not? They practically invented Shoegaze with their 1990 album “Nowhere,” which they played in its entirety. 

Now this next half of the night I have no notes for. I really don’t know how to write all that I heard and experienced. I’ve been to a lot of shows in my time, way too many, and Ride’s set was truly, and I’m not kidding you, one of the best I’ve ever witnessed. Every note they played was perfect, every emotion was there. You could feel the power and energy in every song and the band put their all into it. 

They didn’t miss a beat, whether it was the guitar solo at the end of “Vapour Trail” or the harmonica in “Here and Now,” Andy Bell (vocals and guitar), Mark Gardener (also vocals and guitar), Loz Colbert (drums) and Steve Queralt (bass) were perfect with every move and sound they made. 

After “Nowhere,” they played some songs from other albums, including their newest single “Peace Sign,” which had dropped that same night.

I counted over fourty guitar pedals on the stage during their set, which is just absurd, but not as absurd as the fact that I got to see two bands that are hallmarks in their genres. While it was a reunion for many in the crowd, who have stuck with the bands since the late eighties, for others it was a brand new experience. 

A girl who was standing next to me got her first ever set list with the help of a man who flew in from Europe to catch Ride and The Charlatans on this North American tour. He was so happy to be there and to see others who reminded him of his youth, when he got his first setlist from Van Halen when they opened up for Black Sabbath. 

What a guy, what a night, what a ride.