Local Natives' Tonality

Last night's Local Natives show at the Rock "n" Roll Hotel on H Street was a test of small venues. More specifically, it was test of small venues for bands that harmonize. I was last at this venue in March to see the double-billed Real Estate and Woods show. Even then, it seemed like RnR is more conducive to instrumentals than vocals. Real Estate, which has more instrumental songs, sounded much better than Woods, which relies on harmonizing that involves much falsetto. At the time, I attributed this aural dissonance to the fact that simply liked Real Estate more.

With the Local Natives, the venue's effect on sound quality was more palpable. Their album, Gorilla Manor, features a dozen lyrical songs set to a backdrop of upbeat drums and keyboard, with African influences (think less aggressive Animal Collective). One thing that shows off the band's talent on their album are their incredibly controlled crescendos. Many songs open with barely accompanied vocals that drag the listener in quietly before burgeoning into loud, emotional choruses. For example, "Shape Shifter" opens with one band member singing with a keyboard and a few chords:

"My king I'm humbled before you, I bow
Moods like you're pulled by the moonlight, somehow"

At this point, the other band members join in with harmonizing vocals. The drums kick in.

"How is the language we're speaking the same?
Shape shifter have you discovered a change?"

Just as the tone of this song is established as possibly mournful about a mercurial person, the song immediately pick up pace. Now all four singing band members are heard:

"Why does the soul hallucinate?
I've got control, I shift my shape."

Unfortunately at the show last night, the band could not compete with the screaming throngs of off-key fans. It seemed like the band members had a difficult time hearing each other, and became off-key themselves.The strain in their vocal chords as they tried to make themselves was visible. In contrast, the opening band Suckers, which is more instrumental, sounded great. Though the lead singer was kind of drowned out, he was less out of tune since hearing others was not so much of a problem in his situation.

At the same time, maybe hearing the vocals is besides the point. The Local Natives were energetic and enthusiastic. They marked each key change with sharp, moves. Their stage dancing also kept the pace of their crescendos. The whole room was bouncing along to their rhythms (we had no trouble hearing those). By the time the encore, "Sun Hands," came around, we all had our hands in the air. An enjoyable end to an enjoyable evening.