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The summer wasn’t technically dead yet, but as front man Matthew Vasquez from Delta Spirit put it, “It’s sweater weather people! Summer is over!” The cool temperatures on this night didn’t stop the hot playing and warm emotions found on the Central Park stage as two incredibly talented bands threw down an enjoyable show.
The five piece Delta Spirit took the stage before seven to about a quarter full Playfield, focusing the majority of their opening set on their most recent self-titled release. The album is full of deep sounds and songs and the group seemed to thrive off of their structures. “Just Tear It Up” featured two drummers slamming over Will McLaren’s cascading guitar notes, “Idaho” got the crowd clapping before it’s building climax and “Time Bomb” toyed with a tripped out spacey intro. Older songs like “Strange Vine” rambled with ease and “White Table” had a sparse reggae vibe, but you could sense confidence in the new numbers.
“Home” had pulsating cinematic energy that was a set highlight while “Money Saved” was alive, buzzing high while “California” closed the opening set. After a short break Dr. Dog moseyed out under a backdrop that looked like a Crayola drawing of a warped American flag waving over Central Park; a pretty apt setting for this ragtag American act.
“Shadow People” opened up the groups long set but things weren’t in synch from the get go as Scott McMicken was having some voice and sound issues for the first few songs. Toby Leaman took lead vocals on “Stranger” but it was the super smooth harmonies that stood out from the band as a whole. “Arc” had biblical inferences adding a deeper vibe to the proceedings, in fact the set as a whole seemed to have darkness floating just behind the pop surface very much in the vein of Sgt. Peppers.
McMicken was back in top form for “The Rabbit, the Bat, and the Reindeer” which allowed a shaggy looseness to flow over the six-piece while Frank McElroy slung riffs. “Do The Trick” and “Heavy Light” both had an Electronica edge with dancing polyrhythm’s added by Eric Slick on drums while keyboards by both Dmitri Manos and Zach Miller spruced things up. “Heavy Light” in particular gained mega energy when compared to its studio brother on Be The Void.
A few of the highpoints were vastly different in tone and playing but all were staggering in performance proving this band has worlds of talent. “The Beach” epically rose out of dark blue and purple lights as Leaman played his Pirate/Preacher roll exuberantly. “Jackie Wants A Black Eye” was perfect pop/rock goodness with a disco beat tossed in for good measure and the groups cover of “Heart It Races” strutted around the stage effortlessly.
The encore found the group joined by Delta Spirit for “Worst Trip” as Vazquez hoped on Leaman’s shoulders to fire up the crowd before the Philly band dipped way back into their catalog for a show closing “Oh No” shout/sing-along. While not the most heavily attended show (the venue was half full at best) both bands put on inspired performances worthy of the grand location.
