Videos from the Neon Indian >> and Friends show this past Thursday evening in Phoenix have been posted to the zBORED YouTube channel. It was a super dope show to say the least. Both bands on such an intimate stage at this stage in their careers was something to cherish. I also loved that it was just two bands that I've really grown to love over the last year or so crushing it back to back at 9pm sharp and boom [I guess I just wasn't in the mood for an unknown opener after a shit performance from Danny Brown, who opened for Childish Gambino the night before].
The Brooklyn-based Friends got the night started and wasted no time getting into my favorite song of theirs 'Friend Crush'. I never realized how cute both the girls in the band were until I made my way up front status. They're hot actually. The lead singer has a bubbly persona and sings like a magician [what? too late]. The bass player, who sings backup and plays a variety somethings and other thingies [technically speaking], is all attitude on those doodads. Hotness.
They did a mean cover of 'My Boo' from way back in the day by Ghost Town DJ's and a few times the lead singer serenaded us and danced with us out on the floor, at the beer tub and into the bleachers which is just a testament to what an intimate venue Crescent Ballroom is. The second time she did that was during 'I'm His Girl' [she's out there the pretty much the whole time in this video until 0:56 in when she gets back on stage right in front of me - I had a nice time focusing on the bass player prior].
The headlining Neon Indian went on after Friends but following an intermission about 25 minutes long. The band's sound techs kept coming in and out, on and off the stage to continually check something faulty or they forgot to do their soundcheck in advance. The whole time this was happening we stood front stage wondering about the weird, backlit, smoking and 6-feet tall centerpiece they had set up on stage that looked like it came from the year 2525 [if man is still alive].
They opened with 'Arcade Blues' from their newest release Era Extrano. Actually most of the songs they played in the front half of their set were from this LP like 'Polish Girl', 'Fallout' and 'Hex Girlfriend'. It's a really great album their sound has really advanced since Psychic Chasms, which is probably why the band is starting to finally bubble now. But I still really love the old school gems from Neon Indian like the aforementioned title track 'Psychic Chasms', 'Deadbeat Summer' and 'Terminally Chill', which they eventually got to.
What a rad show to the utmost max. I can't wait to see both these bands again. Friends will be back here again at Crescent Ballroom in June and I guess I'll have to wait until Lollapalooza to see Neon Indian again. Sold.
