Concert Recap: Neon Indian + Purity Ring

Purity Ring

It was a sold out show at the Cat's Cradle this Wednesday, as Neon Indian and Purity Ring fans got a megadose of low-fi synth-pop. Purity Ring opened the show and, given their talent, is sure to have someone opening for them next time I see them. Instead of relying on stage lights the DJ had a contraption rigged to his sampling equipment. The colors on the lights around his console corresponded to the beat and a large bass drum on the stage would light up during bass beats. Megan James' vocals were slightly haunting, though meticulously well-pitched, and married well with the DJ's almost spooky music samples and beats.

As the anticipation built for Neon Indian, a sea of flannel shirt-wearing fans wielding PBRs packed in around the stage. Neon Indian opened with "Local Joke" from Pyschic Chasms (2009). Much of the original music remained in tact, but some guitar leads were slightly lost in translation. They also relied on a drum kit instead of low-fi drum samples. The crowd responded well to the more popular tracks. The band played a long synth-heavy segue into "Pyschic Chasms" and the crowd began to move as the synth-bass line drove the song along. "Polish Girl" (Era Extraña, 2011) was also a huge hit and a segue into "Dead Beat Summer" made both tunes even better. Lead singer Alan Palomo even let the crowd sing the chorus. Palomo told the crowd there was one song left in the set but said that since we were "such a great audience" they would play on through the encore set, which included "Terminally Chill" and "Should've Taken Acid With You". All in all it was a great night of low-fi/chillwave, right in my backyard.

Alan Palomo (lead singer, synth)

Leanne Macomber (synth, vocals)
 playing a tune on bass

Upcoming Concert: Neon Indian vs. Miniature Tiger

Two great bands are headlining shows in separate venues just miles apart on the same night and I still haven't decided who to go see. Neon Indian will be at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, N.C. and Miniature Tigers will be at the Night Light in Chapel Hill.

Neon Indian

Texas-based Neon Indian is headlining at the bigger venue of the two and is a very tempting choice. The quintessential low-fi, chillwave group is sure to have concert-goers enthralled with their usage of classic synthesizers and looping gear. Opening act Purity Ring's beats go hand in hand with Neon Indian, and features a female lead vocalist to cut through heavy synthesizers and looping.

Miniature Tigers

Miniature Tigers, a Brooklyn-based indie-rock group, is headlining with several smaller but talented opening bands. Electro-punk group, The Chain Gang of 1974, and gritty surfer-rock group, Pretty and Nice seem like two interesting opening acts. However, I would most like to see San Francisco-based trio, Geographer. Their music falls somewhere between acoustic indie-pop/rock and electronic, and frontrunner Michael Deni's vocals are nothing short of amazing. I do worry that with three opening acts, each band will only get a short gig on stage though. Which show would you choose?

Purity Ring - Loft Cries
Neon Indian - Polish Girl
Geographer - Kite
The Chain Gang of 1974 - Undercover
Pretty and Nice - Tora, Tora, Tora
Miniature Tigers - Female Doctor