Purity Ring, Com Truise and Neon Indian
Sept.30 2011
The Troubadour
Maybe there are more fun ways to spend a night than going to a sweaty, hipster dance party in West Hollywood, but nothing makes for a more interesting setting, that's for sure. Last Friday at the Troubadour, chillwavers Purity Ring, Com Truise and Neon Indian turned the historic LA venue into a haven for dancers. As an expert foot-tapper and skillful head-bobber, there were a few times the intensity of sweaty hipsters grinding on each other became a tad overwhelming. However, the bands' performances, combined with the crowd's enthusiasm and the venue's intimate setting made up for it.
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Announcing to the crowd that this was their first show of the tour,
Purity Ring opened up with raw energy that set the tone for the night.
The band had a simple stage set up that consisted of a colorful
three-paneled banner behind them that lit up, a bass drum that was
pounded on by front woman Megan James that lit up, and an odd piping
gadget that was attached to Corin Roddick's turn tables that, as you
might have guessed, also lit up.
Even without a full-length, the future-pop duo confidently opened up to a rather large crowd. James profusely thanked
everyone for arriving early and supporting the music while giving
hi-fives to excited audience members. As the set continued, James and
Roddick hypnotized the crowd with a light show that corresponded to the
changing electronic beats of the music. Playing in a small venue such as
the Troubadour unquestionably worked in their favor.
The highlights
of the set came when they played the popular singles “Belispeak”
and “Lofticries,” which ignited the crowd. In their short, 30-minute performance, Purity Ring packed a
powerful punch; these
Canadians are definitely worthy all of the hype they've been
receiving.
The Troubadour was almost at full capacity when Com Truise (yes,
like the crazy actor, but with the first letters switched) began his
set. As soon as the lights went down and Seth Haley began his first
song, the venue once again, became a hipster grinding ground. Although I
am somewhat biased and prefer more of a show rather than a person
twisting knobs and playing off a Mac Book for 45 minutes, the Jersey
native's performance was a typical electronic dance set. The set list
consisted of songs off of the album Galactic Melt and the EP Cyanide
Sister, which were released earlier this year.
Throughout his
performance, it was clear that Haley–who looks like he could've been a meat head football jock in high
school–was having a great time onstage and fed off the crowd's energy. He interacted with the audience and let go of any tough guy misconceptions with his giant smile and loud, “Thank you LA!” after every song. I'm not much of a fan, but Haley and the crowd shared a crazy chemistry. As soon as
Com Truise's set was over, Haley let out a final “I fucking love you
Los Angeles!” and the entire venue let out a cheer that gave me goosebumps. By the time Com Truise's
set was over, the energy in the room was at an all time high–which set the stage perfectly for the headliners.
As soon as Neon Indian began playing, everyone who had trickled into the
bar in between sets rushed back into the main room and charged the
stage like wild animals. Twenty-one-year-old frontman Alan Palomo and his
four-piece band opened up with the dance-y jam “Terminally Chill” off
the 2009 album Psychic Chasms. The band members
played their instruments jumping up and down and/or head banging
throughout the entire set, and Palomo moved around the stage with a Mic
Jagger-esque vibe.
Everyone in the crowd danced and sang along to every
song, and they soaked up Neon
Indian's energy, clapping and screaming when the band told them to. At one point in the middle of
the set, Palomo thanked everyone for coming and told a story about the
last time the band played a show in LA. Apparently the band arrived at
the venue 20 minutes before they were to go on stage, due to the band's
old manager who “ingested an entire bag of shrooms and was no where to
be found.”
The set list got better when toward the latter part of Neon Indian's set, with songs off their newest album, Era Extraña. By the end of the show everyone
in the crowd–plus the people on the upper deck–were on their feet
dancing and singing. As soon as the band exited the stage everyone in
the venue began chanting “Encore! Encore! Encore!”
Neon Indian came back to play two more songs, but on “Should Have Taken Acid With You,” they experienced some
technical difficulties and played the song over again saying, “It's not
ok with us to fuck up and not make it right. So here is take two!” Everyone in the venue loved it, and cheered them on even louder.
Critic's Bias: I'm not really into this new artist fad of using celebrity names and changing letters around.
Overheard in the crowd:
“I wish I was on what every other hipster in here is on.”
“What color is your glow stick?”
“Get me four coronas, with extra lime and love…Don't forget the love!”
“There's no way your getting up for work in the morning.”
Random Notebook Dump: After arriving at the Troubadour I saw a girl
dressed up as Madonna sexually harass a random guy, and then get kicked
out.
Neon Indian setlist:
Terminally Chill
Polish Girl
Hex Girlfriend
Mind, Drips
Futuresick
6669 (I Don't Know If You Know)
Psychic Chasms
Deadbeat Summer
Ephemeral
Artery
** ENCORE
Heart Decay
Should Have Taken Acid With You
Should Have Taken Acid With You (Take 2)
