Local Natives have certainly come a long way from when I first posted about them. Deep down I always knew they were due for bigger and better things, and last nights sold out show at Governor’s Island was just the beginning.
Opener number one was Young Man, a band appropriately consisting of young men from Chicago, Illinois. The band did impress me, with Grizzly Bear like melodies and textures, thrown with Born Ruffian vocals. They almost sounded too much like those bands, but hey, that isn’t a bad thing I suppose. I got to check out their recorded stuff soon. These guys are young and talented. Should be interesting to see where they go.
The second opener was We Barbarians, an impressive 3-piece from Long Beach, California. They played an excited set of bruised rock and roll that reminded me of Kings Of Leon’s Because Of The Times days. It was eerie how similar their guitars were to KOL. They had lyrical substance and intense live chops that had most of the crowd rocking with them. I have a feeling these guys are going to explode with then next couple of years. They are playing the Mercury Lounge this Wednesday with Cults, so you may want to check that out.
Local Natives opened with an inspiring “World News” that got the crowd in a frenzy, eager to belt back Local Natives gorgeous harmonies into the water filled edge of Governor’s Island. The band ran through practically every song from Gorilla Manor creating looks of awe from a diverse crowd of all ages. The boys delivered a heartfelt performance of “Airplanes” that had all men & women in awe. The song always finds ways to hit emotions you didn’t even know you had.
Personally my favorite performance of the evening was “Who Knows, Who Cares”. To me this song showed the incredible growth and warmth in the bands harmonies. Sure, watching them switch instruments and rock out with songs like “Wide Eyes” is a pleasure, but to me the real charm of the band comes in their more honest moments.
The band ended the show with an adrenaline filled take of “Sun Hands” that had the entire crowding singing and dancing on the beach into the night.
Setlist
1. World News
2. Camera Talk
3. Warning Sign
4. Shape Shifter
5. Cubism Dream
6. Cards & Quarters
7. Airplanes
8. Stranger Things
9. Who Knows, Who Cares
10. Wide Eyes
Encore:
11. Sun Hands
Check out my photos, after the jump:
Local Natives:
We Barbarians:
Young Man:
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