Spiritualized induce a collective catharsis and rebirth at the Masonic

When Spiritualized walked on stage on Tuesday, March 30th, at the Masonic, between the cheers and shouts someone cried out: “We’re all just gon sit here, uh?” Defining Spiritualized’s live show as an experience is an understatement – the atmosphere, curated from the visuals, to the lights, to the set up of the stage and, of course, the sound, is immersive and electrifying.

The show opened with “Hold On,” from the well-aged album Amazing Grace (2003), with its atmospheric guitars and melancholic-yet-hopeful lyricism. Rows and rows of listening heads oscillated from side to side, absorbed. Behind the band, a pattern of lights and ever-changing visuals followed the music, generating a multi-sensory, exhilarating soundscape.

Transitions between songs were quiet: Jason Pierce, casually sitting on a chair, guitar on his lap, never uttered a word. A series of older songs, from the now-classic “Shine a Light,” with its dreamy guitars and gentle vocals, to “Broken Heart” and its distinctive ethereal sound, punctuated the first part of their set. Longtime fans, as signaled by the consistent claps and shouts at the end of every song, were pleased by the band’s decision to take the audience on a trip through their sonic history.

The real treat, however came with the second part of their set. With no introduction or announcement from Pierce, Spiritualized embarked on a rewarding song-by-song journey through their newest album, And Nothing Hurt (2018). The visuals accompanied every track, from starry skies to abstract explosions of unfamiliar shapes and colours, setting the scene and transporting the audience to a different plane of existence. It was as if every attendee was transplanted in a different micro-universe with every song change.

Psychedelic rays of light bounced off the high ceiling of the Masonic, and the room filled with red light for “The Prize.” After one song more, Pierce finally graced us with the words “thank you,” before they walked off stage. No words were wasted. Spiritualized’s sonic growth showed through with every song. The unquestionable instrumental mastery of each member was audible in the performance’s smoothness and cohesion, from the guitars shaping the atmosphere to the drums leading the way forward.

The crowd stood up to attract the band back on stage, shouting, screaming, whistling and crying of excitement fueled the room. The energy was incandescent. For the last few songs, no one could sit still, and the order of the seats had to be disrupted: here and there throughout the audience, legs stretched out to stand and arms waved as high as they could reach.

The encore was a ceremony, a celebration, a sacrament. Cathartic and rejuvenating, Spiritualized launch into an awe-inspiring version of “Oh Happy Day.” The choir standing behind Pierce provided the backing vocals, with their gentle-yet-decisive voices, which were coupled with the rawness of Pierce’s voice. Drums and guitar, constantly ensuring the atmosphere of otherworldly mysticism was not left behind, enwrapped the audience with their sound, from ear to ear, ensnaring them into a sonic embrace.

Spiritualized live was a religious experience, and the most majestic of kind. Renewed and revitalized, we were ready for more. Everyone present left the room with a sigh, as if it was their first breath after being submerged in a sea of soothing sounds. Grateful and melancholic, in the march to the outside world again we were now in kinship. There was a familiarity which reassured us that outside there, somewhere, others like us had lived through this experience, and were granted the lucky chance to know the unrepeatable and indescribable sensation that made Spiritualized live so unique, impressive and ultimately spectacular.