I've had the chance to venture out to a few shows in the last couple weeks - I saw moe. at the Fox, The Eagles of Death Metal and the Strokes with my boss Bo and fellow design guru Mark at the Tabernacle. Last week I saw Clap Your Hands Say Yeah with Sarah and our good buddy David at the Variety Playhouse. Last night I ventured out by myself (seems no one wanted to see Animal Collective at the Variety with me) - the best show out of them all - these guys take it to the next level.
Animal Collective demanded the audience’s attention from the get-go. Impressive lighting only heightened the effect as the band churned through their set, sometimes meandering along a single beat provided by Geologist (Brian Weitz) and at other times ripping into a full-on freakout like only an Animal Collective could do. Animal Collective music is, in a nutshell, hard to digest in one sitting.
They are extremely creative, cushioning their songs with fat beats resonating from Geologist’s switchboard/turntable, and their knack for the pop hook is undeniable. Avey Tare’s vocals are completely appropriate for his purposes, as well, for at any given moment he can sound exactly like a young David Byrne or a tortured Jeff Buckley (falsetto and all), hence the aforementioned analogy. The rhythm of the band was quite unpredictable as well, even within each long and sprawling song in which they indulged.
The band was in high gear throughout the set, stopping only briefly for a breather as they smoothly transitioned from one piece to the next. I say piece because the show felt like one big monster. The whole set was one large collection of sounds, one merging into the next without a second thought.
The opening act, Nix Noltes, could not have been more solid. they are a nine piece Eastern European folk band that honestly can rock. Here's a photo - it can't begin to convey the power:
