Of Montreal has the right to make the claim that they’re Mohawk’s house band, having played the venue three times in the last year. What’s more amazing is that their frequent trips to the city haven’t inhibited their ability to sell out the place. It’s not surprising, considering the fact that the band puts on one of the best shows in live music.
If you haven’t listened any of the times we’ve told you that the band’s visual spectacle, irreverent humor, costumed oddity, and relentless dance jams warrant your attendance at their shows, we can’t help you. of Montreal is a must-see show. It almost doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen them, you just go. If you don’t, we’re forced to believe that you are on a holy crusade against fun and joy.
Seattle synth pop band Pillar Point opened the night with a set of hyper-mellow, hazy dance tracks. The group plays with flair and intensity that provides a dramatic edge to the group’s ethereal pop that has sonic texture akin to a gentry rolling fog bank. By use of programmed as well as live drums and an assortment of keys and guitars, Pillar Point’s songs offer a impressive range of nuance and diversity while remaining cohesive.
of Montreal’s show last night offered even more benefit than usual, as the band debuted two new songs from a forthcoming record. The album was recorded in El Paso, which helps explain in part why the band chose to hit Lubbock on this tour. Everyone falls in love with West Texas at some point. The rest of the setlist was rounded out by usual of Montreal hits such as “The Past is a Grotesque Animal,” “She’s a Rejector,” “Suffer for Fashion,” as well as newer standouts like “Fugitive Air” and mellow dream-pop track “Obsidian Currents.” Recent contributor Rebecca Cash has left the band, but her absence didn’t result in any slowing down. In fact, of the four of Montreal shows I’ve seen in the last year and half, I think this one packed more energy than ever.
Why belabor the point with words that can never contain the truly awesome nature of an of Montreal show? Better skip right to the photos. Even this can’t truly encapsulate all the wonder and joy, but we did our best. Suffice to say that next time the band comes through, we’ll be there, and so should you.
All photographs © Bryan C. Parker & Pop Press International; all rights reserved. Click any photo to open set in slideshow viewer.
