March 4, 2006
Random Rock Review: Animal Collective, Stars
Animal Collective, Avalon, 2.21.06
Avoiding misnomers and labels and subverting expectations, Animal Collective performed a mix of sounds and songs that were incredibly familiar to Boston fans in attendance. Last year at the Middle East downstairs, the foursome worked through material that would become one of the finest albums of the year, Feels, as well as a choice or two from Sung Tongs. That show was veiled in a blanket of shadows and sweat, with the indie kids playing Lost Boys to AC’s Pan. On the popularity of Feels, demand caused their tour opener to be moved (not necessarily upgraded) from Paradise to Avalon.
Seeing Animal Collective on a spacious, well-lit stage presented a significant shift from the darkness and warmth of the Middle East. In the sterile Avalon setting, the band and their followers seemed slightly more exposed and sober, while the songs still sparkled and erupted with their signature harmonious dissonance. Familiar favorites “Grass,” “Flesh Canoe,” and “We Tigers” showed their might, but the set wrapped up with an awkward moment: does Animal Collective perform encores? More to the point: does AC subscribe to formality of leaving the stage, letting the crowd clap for two minutes, and returning to the stage? And then, does AC accept requests?? For the Maryland/Brooklyn/Neverland foursome, “true to form” means that there is no truth to form. As The Phoenix previewed, don’t imply that the music they make is not pop, and never define what their live show will contain. Once the two members who left the stage rejoined the two who remained, they closed with the audience-appreciated “Purple Bottle,” and the next chapter in Animal Collective lore began.
Stars, Paradise Rock Club 2.22.06
Stars (the band) are ready-made for VH1. Oh wait, VH1 doesn’t play music anymore. (And to Bostonist’s knowledge, Stars don’t possess the dysfunction to captivate TV audiences alongside the Bonaduce family or the fame to B-list on the Surreal Life.) Ok, maybe there is still a bonus VH1 channel on your Comcast Digital dial that will house Stars, but it’s not VH1 Classic.
This VH1 aside should be an indication of how entertaining the Stars show was at the Paradise last Wednesday. When singer Torquil Campbell adjusted his earpieces for the 1,000th time mid-song, Bostonist realized that the music just wasn’t enough to stay interested. Maybe it was unfair to bring Broken Social Scene-sized expectations, but it is still a marvel that 7 people could sound so bland. This was Broken Social Scene Light. Very light. With aspartame. They attempted to appeal to the American East Coast in all of us with a Bruce Springsteen cover, but missed by choosing one of his worst (“Hungry Heart”) and not making it any better. And the ear-piece feed couldn’t have been more distracting if it had a chin strap.
Image courtesy flicker/Lhot_Galisteo
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You forgot to mention that First Nation, the opening band for Animal Collective was possibly the worst band ever performing at that venue.
The Phoenix put it best:
"As the three women in First Nation exchanged tiny, rueful smiles a week ago Tuesday at Avalon and began another terrible sub-folk song about the tall, tall grass or hiding under granny’s bed or whatever it is, it struck me: where are the flying bottles of piss? The catcalls? Where is the smoldering haze of herd antipathy rising like an odor from the crowd? Looking at the smooth, bright faces around me, I see nothing but a genial curiosity. The utter ineptitude of the band on stage, their hapless attempts at harmony and their all-thumbs guitar technique..."
Horrible stage presence. More atonal than intended. Boston was being very, very nice to them by not boo'ing them off the stage. Come on Boston, get it together!