One of the bands I ever wanted to listen to live was Bat for Lashes. Unfortunately and due to a distance greater than 7,000 miles, an ocean in the middle, and poor media support to our dearest Natasha Khan in Mexico that chance seemed unlikely until, thank heavens!, the band came as an opening show. It was now or never.

In March 6th 2010, Bat for Lashes made its debut on Mexican land at a rather big place, a baseball stadium named “Foro Sol”, Mexico City. The bigger the place is, the lonelier you feel when somewhat you get the impression you are the only Bat For Lashes fan, it is even more frustrating to go and try getting souvenirs, but I managed to get my white T-shirt with the name of the group on it.

Once I made it to my oh-I-can-touch-the-sky seat, the only thing left to do was waiting and after 1 hour the whole stadium became dark, then light was made through a photo displayed on a gigantic screen: a blue, starry night sky, the moon and the desert as background, a wolf as the main character of the picture. Then it all started:

“I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets…”

Echoed words came out of a girl’s throat, with a voice like that and so little warning of what was about to happen, it could really touch your heart and make you feel like crying. Lights turned on with the first percussions of ‘Glass,’ a girl all in white, black hair, tribal look, Natasha! And her talented band, of course. After this song, she addressed to the crowd in a rather shy tone: “Buenas Noches” (Good Evening!), perfect pronunciation, people responded positively to such courtesy. Then the next song, ‘Sleep Alone’, incidental “wows” would come out of the crowd’s mouth; I was too busy screaming like crazy with two other girls, Mexican style (you get it until you experience it!).

The next song was ‘Moon and Moon’, and at this point I noticed she was strictly following the Two Suns Track list order, and also realized how the band’s sound was so clean, impeccable, just as in the album. After this song, the stadium lights turned on and Ms. Khan again said “Buenas Noches” (Good Evening!), then “Oh, so many people! Hello!”, like she was performing in front of almost 60,000 people.

If she was following the same track list, then the next track was Daniel; but oh, no!, she jumped up to ‘Peace of Mind ‘and there she removed her sweater in front of all of the crowd, then the oh-not-very-nice-male-Mexican reaction could not wait (shame!). Sorry for that, Miss!

Lights go off again, on again. The girl starts playing the piano. I know those notes:

“Are you family? Can I stay with you a while?”
…

Crowd shocked, silence, attention.

“Till siren comes calling…”

Crowd shocked, screaming, many “wows” heard, excitement.

This song was THE moment. ‘Siren Song’ was the point where the crowd really acknowledged Bat for Lashes and jaws dropped. May I say it was the saddest moment as well, since Natasha’s voice sounded so broken by the end of the song, as if she was about to burst into tears, singing repeatedly “it’s driving me evil” This song made me cry, these are the times when you say “What?! I’ve got feelings!, you know?”

A tremendous yeah! and applauds were the answer to such brilliant performing. Then ‘Pearl’s dream,’ the well-known and promoted song by Bat for Lashes at this part of the world. We were so excited. Good Love was the next, then Two Suns (again jaws dropped); the little white point at a distance started happily to dance, the crowd was excited to correspond to all of that energy with arms in the air, screams, letting ourselves go through the moment and the magic created.

Big silence, (Mexican style again, i.e., whistling as “hurry up”, not nice). The first notes of ‘A Forest’ made themselves present, another big wow among the impatient public.

Again, Bat for Lashes addressed to the public thanking the headliners on that concert for inviting them to join them, and to the crowd for listening to their songs.

The end of this performance was marked by ‘Daniel’, where again I jumped off from my seat and started to dance, 80’s like. Yes, I know!

Thank You, and the magic was over. Stage lights off.

Such great talents, what a voice! Sound-chasers, creative spirit in every note in times where inventiveness seems to go into extinction, a heart broken and subsequent breakthrough explained all through Math and Physics in motion, a.k.a. Music; magic and sensitivity added. We are not sure whether we will have the opportunity to listen to Ms. Khan and her band, a.k.a Bat for Lashes around this neighborhood, but I am pretty sure the band made itself notice and moved some feelings within our hectic hearts, as they have already moved in mine. We ask for more!

“My name is Pearl and I love you…”

TMT

(Editors’ note: we thank Tonan for her heartfelt contribution. Don’t be a stranger – Misky & Quinto)

Listen to THE song that defines ‘Two Suns’ for us at Sloucher: