Neon Trees
The Wiltern
6/14/14
The Neon Trees brought its ultraviolet, cool-kid romance flair to the Wiltern Theater Saturday night, with an hour and a half-long set chronicling the band's three-album long journey thus far.
Dubbed the Pop Psychology tour, after the band's third and most recent album (released in April of this year), the tour marks the band's transition from new wave rookies riding the coattails of The Killers, to seasoned headliners, paving the way for up and coming acts like opening band, Smallpools.
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Outfitted in a neon yellow suit with multi-colored Doc Martin boots threaded with flamingo-pink laces, lead singer Tyler Glenn made it clear the Murrieta-founded quartet came on a mission to make everyone in attendance dance their emo-pop loving asses off!
Playing an even mix of songs from all three albums throughout the night, the Trees made sure to include the two biggest hits off its first album Habits — Animal and 1983 — within the first five songs, which primed up the crowd for the rest of the set. Highlights of the set include drummer Elaine Bradley coming out to sing with Glenn and a cover of the Pixies', Where is my Mind, during the encore.
In between songs, Glenn shared anecdotes with the crowd, including a few words about how the Mormon, currently Utah-based lead singer recently came out of the closet in the April issue of Rolling Stone, a fact which Glenn had previously denied. Before launching into Living in Another World, Glenn told the crowd, “My name is Tyler, I'm gay and I'm from Southern California. Don't ask me why I went vegan at 18, and don't mind me 'cause I'm living in another world.”
And while some might find Glenn's homosexuality statement to have been the most vulnerable moment of the show, it was actually his earlier admission to being “30 years old and having to use BB cream before bed at night,” that had most of the young hipster crowd gaping in disbelief, while the over 30 minority rallied in solidarity.
Critic's Bias: I'll admit it, Animal was the theme song to an especially shitty breakup a couple years back. If you don't know what I mean, you're not human (thus, the animal in the situation).
The Crowd: Throngs of 25-and-under emo-pop kids, peppered by small patches of the 30-and-over, BB cream using set.
Overheard: “I'm sorry ma'am, but you can't stand with your foot hanging over the aisle.” Ma'am? Go fuck yourself.
Setlist:
Lessons in Love (All Day, All Night)
Your Surrender
Love in the 21st Century
Animal
Moving in the Dark
1983
I Love You (But I Hate Your Friends)
Mad Love
Unavoidable
Teenager In Love
Text Me In the Morning
Living in Another World
Still Young
Voices In the Halls
Trust
Sleeping With a Friend
Encore:
Where Is My Mind (Pixies cover)
Everybody Talks
First Things First
See also
10 Punk Albums to Listen to Before You Die
10 Goriest Album Covers
10 Most Satanic Metal Bands
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