Concert Review: Dirty Projectors at the Troubadour/Casbah
Two weeks ago, I went on a mini tour to see Dirty Projectors back-to-back nights at the Troubadour and then the Casbah in San Diego. The first night consisted on a special night out between Ebee and I where we decided it should be just the two of us as we tried to recapture the magical events that had inspired so much awe in us on New Years Eve in New York merely 7 months ago.
I have been a fan of the DP from back when the band consisted mainly as a solo act from the gawky Frontman Dave Longstreth. He would record breathtakingly awkward songs on a four track in his room that were mostly uncut and special in an Elliott-Smith-roman-candles kind of way. Their new album is in stark contrast to this, featuring professional sound and a much fuller, polished composition. I had illegally downloaded, Bitte Orce, about 6 months ago but decided that I wanted to hear the songs performed live for the first time, so I deleted it. This new philosophy of listening to music live for the first time has created a child-like giddiness leading into shows; I highly recommended it. Anyway, their new band is a much expanded lineup from its humble origins featuring three beautiful young woman, a new bass player, and a drummer plus the Frontman. The band has been able to unlock new sounds unlike any other rock band in the indie underworld that I have heard to date. There are looping interwoven harmonies, vocals that sound like a keyboard and off-centered time signatured drum sequences that flow even within their fragmented structure. The guitar work of Dave Longstreth is so different to me with his pick only strumming strings in which his fingers are placed on. I am at a loss for describing it effectively but it reminds me of David Byrne if that helps (whom they just collaborated with in Dark Night Compilation). Bottom line is the effects of the concert were electric to me, particularly the song Remade Horizons(watch the vid); the song begins with a landscape of bopping female voices, followed by an entirely new song sequence, yet by the middle the two separate loops have been united, creating a whirlwind of cold air through the frontal lobe. Seriously my legs began to weaken and my mind quieted, forgetting time.
San Diego was more of the same except the familiarity of songs now created a warmness in my heart rather than fascination from new discovery of sound. Additionally I was about to take three old friends from Texas to the show. Fun I hope was had by all and I got to meet a hilarious guy named Tim who yelled out that he loved Wilson Phillips before DP performed….it was awesome.
Enjoy the pics.
