War on Drugs/Califone- Stubbs BBQ, Austin, TX 9/28/14 (SHOW REVIEW/PHOTOS)

Philly band War On Drugs are basically on top of the scene right now. The band’s third full-length album, Lost in the Dream, came out in March and has since emerged as one of the few albums released this year that has found nearly unanimous praise from music snobs and critics. Even this critic is hard-pressed to disagree that Lost in the Dream is definitely one of the strongest releases of 2014. Those who question the value of not only an exceptional album, but also a strong press campaign and the power of “buzz,” need not have looked any further than Stubb’s BBQ in Austin on Sunday night. Excited concert-goers filled every inch of the outdoor amphitheater, waiting for a band that has, up until their new album, been known mostly by music geeks. Sometimes it also helps to hit the same market when you still have a buzz going, and Sunday’s show marked the band’s second in Austin since playing Psych Fest in May, which clearly paid off given the sold out audience.

Before the masses streamed in to fill the venue just in time for War on Drugs, a small, dedicated group of early arrivers gathered for Califone. The band’s sound is difficult to pinpoint, but one fan summed it up well when he described it as “kind of like Wilco strung out on heroin.” This, of course, is a compliment, as the band blends thoughtful lyrics and arid vocals with slowed down arrangements. Instrumentally, Califone plays in a droning, almost experimental style akin to bands like Yo La Tengo. Their opening set contained a handful of tunes of their 2013 album Stitches and served as a pleasant appetizer to the headlining act.

warondrugslive2

When you see the War on Drugs live, there are two things that immediately stand out. The first is the sprawling, grandiose feeling of their sound that can fill every crevice of a large space. The second is the numerous comparisons one can make between the War on Drugs and other mostly older acts. This is not a criticism, but rather a fundamental hallmark to understanding the band. The most obvious comparison is frontman Adam Granduciel’s vocal similarity to Bob Dylan, something the long-haired singer has never tried to hide, as was evident by the band’s flawless rendition of “Tangled Up In Blue” during their encore. The material on Lost in the Dream, which made up the majority of the band’s set at Stubb’s, carries strong influences of new wave and classic acts like Roxy Music. This is due in part to the clean airiness of Granduciel’s guitar work and the presence of a synthesizer on tunes like “Under Pressure” and “Red Eyes.” While songs off the latest album dominated the ninety-minute set, older songs like “Brothers” and the folky “Buenos Aires Beach” fit right in.

Even with the obvious comparisons to other acts, the War on Drugs possess a sound that is entirely their own. Granduciel’s lyrics about struggling with his own anxieties are effective without being overly depressing, and fit in with the music to create a sound that feels like a breath of fresh air in our parched cultural landscape. If there was one thing to take away from their set in Austin, it was the largeness of it all. Like The National or even Radiohead, the War on Drugs are that rare act with a big enough and widely appealing sound to become a huge act, yet a cool factor that will allow them to maintain their indie cred. For that reason, it may be a good idea to catch them at a smaller venue while you still can.

Photos by Arthur VanRooy

Related Content

One Response

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

New to Glide

Keep up-to-date with Glide

Twitter