Photos by Todd Radunsky
The Scene: Young hipsters and Rock nerds meshed well at the Ogden Theatre this past Saturday night to honor Psychedelic Rock band, Tame Impala. The crowd seemed to resonate with the overall theme of the night, which could be labeled as “kaleidoscopic shock.” Although many were clad in black band tees, there was a sea of brightness; dyed hair and funky neon glasses. All 1,600 people were ready to become a part of the magical mysticism that is Tame Impala live.
Tame Impala: The Perth-based band is led by sound-guru Kevin Parker who leads the band and plays almost every instrument imaginable (guitar, drums, bass, synthesizer, mandolin and even the kazoo…to name a few) as he sings. He led the quintet out onto the stage for a mind-altering performance that lasted a cool hour and a half.
The band took it easy during the first couple of songs, engaging the crowd and easing them into an intoxicating Tim Burton-esque set. A crew of people dressed in lab coats aided the band, lugging up their instruments, tweaking their sounds, and partaking in the hilarity of this psychedelic trip. After playing some older songs, Tame Impala went into a crowd favorite playing “Why Won’t They Talk to Me” from their 2012 album, Lonerism. Even better was that someone from the crowd through a kazoo onto the stage and the fearless Parker grabbed it and started jamming out. The audience proved to play a vital part in the band’s journey, with Parker as the front-runner.
A few songs later, “Elephants” punctured the eyes and ears of those who lucky enough to be present at this sold-out show. Then drum solos and psych jams came into play for what seemed like 3 separate songs. Although “Elephants” simply appeared to be an unfinished song, Tame brought it back for the final few bars after a sequence of these synth and dub solos. Tame Impala is learning to jam, albeit swathed in psychedelic glory.
The set ended with the enchanting “Apocalypse Dreams” which combined shapes, colors, and patterns, not only visually but also audibly. The band plays with these themes consisting of layers, textures, and intergalactic euphoria and everyone was enraptured by it.
As they rounded out the set, percussion vibrated while the synths echoed into the hallucinogenic ambiance of the night. The encore, “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards,” felt like the perfect song to wrap up the night. It was a mystifying closer for a band that is without a doubt Pink Floyd of the 21st century. It doesn’t seem like they are a band that is trying to be a legendary, psychedelic rock band. They simply are one.
Energy: A+
Musicianship: A+
Sound: A
Stage Presence: A
Set/Light Show: A+
Overall: A
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