When the rest of us were listening to Blink 182 in middle school, Dylan Baldi was probably discovering hardcore bands. It may explain why in just a few years, his band, Cloud Nothings, has released three full-length albums, and the band’s sound as a whole has undergone an evolution from dorm-room lo-fi pop-punk on 2010’s Turning On to a fearlessly loud and modular sound that toys on the threshold of hardcore. Click here to read more.

For more photos, check out the WTBU photo gallery.

By: Perry Eaton

The sold out crowd gathered at the Paradise Sunday night for the spectacle that is an Of Montreal show was treated to a high-energy, eclectic and overall wild performance. Prior to Sunday I had only read reviews, seen pictures and heard stories about the overwhelming audio and visual nature of a live Of Montreal show, and I was not disappointed.

The show kicked off around 8 P.M. with a couple of diverse openers; the first was former Berklee student Kishi Bashi, who was received extremely well by the already packed venue. Bashi’s obvious immense musical talent combined with his genius looping effects, reminiscent of Andrew Bird, provided the perfect start to the evening. Loney Dear hit the stage around 8:30, the Swedish duo was also received fairly well by the crowd but their lack of energy and stage presence provided a less exciting performance than the dynamic Kishi Bashi.

As 10:00 approached “Montreal, Montreal” chants began to fill the Paradise, as the anticipation of the crowd was clearly building. Finally, dressed as always in an elaborate array of costumes, the headliners hit the stage and the crowd exploded. As they began the show with material from their latest album “Paralytic Stalks” the 4 projector screens surrounding the stage displayed extremely psychedelic images to complement the music. The nature of the music combined with the imagery on the screens and costumes of the musicians already amazed me, however, this was only the beginning of the elaborate live performance the night had in store. Throughout the show a group of men dressed in full body suits with eye and mouth cut outs appeared on the stage to add to the experience. Whether they were hoisting lead singer Kevin Barnes on their shoulders, creating human projector screens, throwing props like balloons into the crowd or stage diving, their presence added an extra element of chaos and excitement to the show.

While some bands may create such an extravagant live experience to perhaps compensate for a lack of live musical ability, this could not be further from the truth in the case of Of Montreal. Despite the elaborate nature of the live show, Of Montreal’s unbelievably tight musical performance was impossible to overlook. Stunning harmonies, beautiful incorporation of wind instruments like the flute and saxophone as well as tight keyboard, guitar and percussion further complemented their stunning visual display.

After about 75 minutes of a crowd rocking show Of Montreal departed the stage, only to return shortly after for an even more epic encore. Their encore jam of hit song “Gronlandic Edit” was nothing short of incredible and equally as exhausting for the musicians and crowd alike. This was a show unlike any I have been to in the past and it is not one I will soon forget. Next time Of Montreal is in town I know I will be attending, and if you are a fan of a wild and fun live show experience, I recommend you do the same.

By: Taylor Chumas

Boston has been doing a superb job, as of late, at showing its support for live music. So many shows have been selling out, including last night’s show at the Paradise Rock Club for The Joy Formidable.  This alternative rock band from the UK has had recent success with the frequent radio play of their song “Whirring” and only one album and an EP behind them. But that’s enough to get them big gigs like Glastonbury 2011 as well as a sold out crowd at a mid-size venue like Paradise.

The stage was decorated nautically, including a lighthouse, twinkling lights, a ship’s wheel, and treasure chests around their instruments and sound systems.  They also had a gong on stage, which they have had at nearly every show they’ve played, as well as a new edition for this tour: an electric harp. We had to wait until the encore to find out what that was for, but it was worth it.

Ritzy Bryan, the lead singer and guitarist, looks like she is having the time of her life on stage, running around in her beautiful and interesting red leather cut-out dress. She made faces at her band mates, Rhydian Dafydd and Matt Thomas, and gestured to the audience to amp it up with her. The only problem was that the floor was very tightly packed and more than half of the audience had alcoholic beverages in their hands and were unable to jump around as much as I would have liked to have seen. Really, the bar at Paradise must have made quite a lot of money from the huge number of older patrons who attended this concert.

Between songs, Bryan took the opportunity to compliment Boston on its rowdiness and bantered with her drummer, Thomas, who could only reply with drum hits because he didn’t have a microphone.  They openly swore at the crowd and each other, like it was part of their conversational vocabulary, which is something that makes Bostonians cheer even louder.

The set seemed to fly by and before I knew it they had left and returned a few minutes later for the encore.  Bryan came back on stage with Dafydd to announce that they had finished recording a new album and played a new song called “Silent Treatment.”  It was acoustic and slower than their other songs, but it holds a lot of potential as part of their new album.

Finally, a harpist came out and started plucking away to the intro of “Whirring” and the crowd was too mesmerized (or drunk) to start cheering yet. Then the rest of the band joined in and they finished the show with a powerful rendition of that song, including the breaking of a few guitar strings and the banging of the gong a few more times.

The Joy Formidable puts on a great live show because of their energy on stage. Bryan has a broad smile on her face as she plays her heart out on the guitar, and Thomas seems to go absolutely crazy on the drums. They were nearing the end of the last tour for their album The Big Roar, and they said they were glad to be wrapping up their U.S. shows in Boston.  And I know Boston will welcome them back with their new album in the same way they did last night.

For more photos, check out the WTBU photo gallery.

When you go to see a concert not knowing much about the band, one of two things could happen. A) You could find the show distant and uninteresting, or B) You could jump right into the energy and discover a new band worthy of obsessing over.

For me, the California 5-piece Delta Spirit, who played Tuesday March 27^th to a sold-out crowd at the Paradise, was able to slap the excitement right into me and get my feet movin’ and groovin’ from the first song. Delta Spirit combines a mixture of Americana and rock music that begs listeners to stomp there feet in agreement to what they’re hearing. Singer/guitarist Matt Vasquez performed with such raw emotion it was hard not to hang on to every note or word he bellowed into the audience. At times he looked like a madman shouting and smiling into the mic and looking deep into individual faces in the crowd. The more he danced across the stage, raised his fists, and fixed his baseball cap, the more we responded. He repeatedly had us clap along to songs as if to make sure every last audience member was participating and having a good time. Multi-instrumentalist Kelly Winrich kept the songs fresh and full of life, switching back and forth between his keyboard and a second drum set, while Will Mclaren concentrated intensely as he performed the bands most intricate guitar parts.

Vasquez kept the energy high between songs by keeping a connection with the audience. “This is a dance number,” he warned, “like every fucking song we write.” It was comments like those that got the tipsy audience to cheer and raise their beers in celebration. Each member of the band (especially bassist Jon Jameson) smiled constantly and made the audience feel like they were truly grateful to be playing that night. Vasquez constantly thanked the audience for coming as he took full advantage of his being-in-the-band-gets-you-free-drinks perk. Despite the liveliness of the show, there were some serious moments in the set. Vasquez dedicated the new song “Yamaha,” a mesmerizing ballad and departure from most of their other high-energy tracks, to his wife, stating “I miss her like hell. She’s only four hours away and it’s a total mindfuck.”

Delta Spirit is a band known for their live performances. When I went home after the show and listened to some of their songs on YouTube, I couldn’t help but notice how much better they were live. This was a show I know I’ll remember and I can’t wait for the next time they come around so I can sing along with the rest of the audience.

By: Pat Malave

The Paradise wasn’t sold out prior to the show, but by the time Ben Kweller took the stage around 9:15 Friday night it sure had the look and atmosphere of a sell out. The crowd was entertained by a couple of solid opening bands to start, New York’s “The Dig” and Kentucky’s “Sleeper Agent” provided a great start to the night with some energetic, crowd pleasing rock.

Kweller kicked off his set with “Mean to Me”, the opening track off his new album, “Go Fly a Kite” and immediately got the crowd at the Paradise going. He continued with an energetic variety of both new and old songs, all of which the crowd seemed to love. After a strong and energetic start to the show the band exited leaving only Ben Kweller on stage to provide the crowd with a beautiful and personal cluster of stripped down songs. As he played songs like “Thirteen” and “Lizzy” which featured just him on the piano with a harmonica, Kweller’s passion captured the room as everyone attentively listened to his every note and quietly sang along with him.

Like many, when I go to a concert I love interaction between the musicians and audience; throughout the show Kweller maintained almost constant communication with the audience, from personal stories to jokes, his stage presence and obvious respect for the crowd made the show even more enjoyable. During one of his anecdotes between songs he divulged to the crowd his love for Boston, which I’m sure almost every artist says in every city they visit, but in telling the crowd this Ben Kweller sounded genuine. He reminisced about how much time he spent in Boston his whole life, how some of his best friends live here and how he met his wife in Cambridge. After expressing his love for the city of Boston he also pronounced his love for the Paradise and proceeded to dedicate his next song to the people stuck behind the poles, which everyone in attendance could appreciate.

After a set of about 17 songs he exited the stage and thanked the crowd for their attendance and participation in the show, it was not long at all before he re-entered for a highly demanded encore. He opened up the encore set with “Commerce, TX,” a lively rock song from his first album “Sha Sha.” Next he yelled to the audience “Now it’s time for the Pearl Jam covers segment of the show,” which he and his band followed up with a hilarious and seemingly unplanned cover of Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy.” Finally it was time for the night to truly come to an end, seeming overwhelmed by the love and energy of the crowd, he thanked the audience once again and closed the show with the wonderfully catchy and energetic “Penny On the Train Track.”

As the crowd exited it seemed everyone’s expectations, including my own, were highly exceeded by the wonderful, personal and entertaining show Ben Kweller put on at the Paradise Rock Club Friday night.

By: Taylor Chumas

Gotye and Kimbra performed a sold out show Thursday night at the House of Blues and what a night it was. For those unfamiliar with Gotye or Kimbra, they each have a sound all their own. They both are a bit quirky and offbeat, but in a good way. Refreshing would probably be the best way to describe their music. I had my expectations set fairly high for this concert and I can safely say that Gotye and Kimbra did not disappoint.

Kimbra opened the show, performing a nine-song set that lasted a little less than an hour. She pranced on stage in a tea party dress with her lips painted a deep red. And, man, did this girl have energy! She danced around the stage and enthusiastically shook her tambourine to every song. Her raspy, piercing voice took over the room and set the crowd swaying as she belted the most soulful parts of her songs. She even used an awesome loop during “Plain Gold Ring.”  There’s no doubt she’s a musical talent.

Once Kimbra had said goodnight and the stage was set for Gotye, the lights dimed and the five-member band emerged to deafening cheers from the House of Blues crowd. The band modestly picked up their instruments and began their first song of the evening, “Eyes Wide Open.” All of their songs were accompanied by some unbelievable video art projected on a screen behind them. The art ranged from surreal drawings to space images to cartoons that were reminiscent of those played on Cartoon Network in the ‘90s.

He interacted with the crowd and involved them in a couple of his songs. The obvious favorite of the night came in the middle of the set when Kimbra was brought back on stage to duet “Somebody That I Used to Know” with Gotye. The second she stepped on stage the crowd whipped out their cell phones to record the performance. The crowd cheered and sang along with every lyric. Gotye ended his set and walked off stage with a wave and a quick goodnight. The crowd shouted and applauded until the band came back on stage for a three-song encore. After the last note was struck, Gotye said goodnight again and briskly walked off stage.

Now, I need to say that Gotye makes great studio albums, but nothing can compare to what he does live. Please, if you ever get the chance to see him live, do it! He takes his audience on a fantastical tour of sound that cannot be experienced anywhere else. I’m not even entirely sure what genre to put his music under. It’s modern, futuristic, tribal, psychedelic, rhythmic, and folksy all at once. Don’t be fooled though. His music isn’t only made for eccentric individuals. It can easily be enjoyed by anyone who is even slightly interested in music.

I really can’t say enough good about both Kimbra’s performance and Gotye’s performance at the House of Blues. I was extremely impressed by both of their sets and will definitely be catching their next show in Boston. I recommend you do, too. You won’t be disappointed.

By: Danielle Medina

The Middle East Club in Cambridge is a Mecca of music almost every night of the week, and sometimes twice a night in the same space. On March 24^th, Jenny Owen Youngs performed in the upstairs room at 6:30pm and the show was over before 8:30pm to make room for another show that night. However, the show didn’t feel rushed.

Aunt Martha, a 4-piece “band of men” as they call themselves, opened the show on Saturday afternoon. They performed at SXSW earlier this month, playing a show for the Boston to Austin showcase. Now that they’re back, they’re playing for friends, family, and new fans alike.

Their relaxed look of t-shirts and jeans lets their music take command on stage instead.  Their folk rock sound sometimes leans with a country twang, but they have songs that cover a range from solemn driving songs to bouncing upbeat songs that had the crowd’s heads bopping. Even the bassist was bopping along, too.  A song they played that I could see reaching great popularity, called “Bloodshot,” mixes their country and folk rock sound really nicely.

Jenny Owen Youngs set up her own stag for her 7:30pm set time, and the crowd cheered when she finally slung her guitar over her shoulder.  She went right into her music, leading off with “My Apartment,” a song from her new album An Unwavering Band of Light.  More songs followed that, as she wittily pointed out, saying, “We’re gonna play more songs for you. All in a row. Like you’ve never seen before.”

Her new album is a great display of a variety of songs, from the roller coaster of “Sleep Machine,” which features horns, to “Pirates,” a fun upbeat song about pirate love. She played these songs, as well as old favorites from her earlier releases.

Youngs seemed to be hiding behind her outgrown fringe while rocking out on stage, but her zombies t-shirt reminded everyone of who she really is.  Elliot Jacobson and Mike Tuccillo joined Youngs on stage, playing drums and bass respectively.  Everyone’s instrumentalism was strong and filled the small upstairs space completely.

It’s always hard for artists to think of something to say between songs on stage, so Youngs went with complimenting the audience. “You guys are great. Really good looking. That’s coming from me so it’s worth something now.”  She didn’t need to win our affections that night, because she was called out for an encore, performing one more new song, “Born to Lose.”

I’ve seen Youngs perform three times by now but this was the first time as the headliner. There’s a little more pressure in that position, but she responds to it well. If she responded any other way, she wouldn’t be Jenny Owen Youngs.

Check out Aunt Marta at http://www.auntmarthaband.com.

And Jenny Owen Youngs at http://www.jennyowenyoungs.com.

By: Deanna Archetto

Music in general is great. Live music? Even better. Donavon Frankenreiter and his band of musical genius hit the stage at Paradise Rock Club last night for a soulful set. Many different aspects go in to making a live show great and those aspects vary. So what made this particular set better than great?

Well for starters, Paradise is a small venue and that means you’re up close and personal with the band. There’s not a bad seat in the house. Not to mention they have a lounge and mezzanine seating. But the real deal last night was the band. The bass had my rib cage rattling, my focus was shifted between each band member and their awesome facial expressions, and, of course, the music was amazing.

Their set consisted of 19 songs and lasted a little longer than an hour. The band was dressed down, which complemented their carefree music nicely. The whole set was laid back and easy going.

The crowd sang along to each song and his die-hard fans even sang the tracks off Donavon’s first album. They swayed back and forth to the guitar and kept time with the drum by tapping their toes. The medley of vocals, guitar, bass, piano, drums, and harmonica washed over the crowd with a feel-good vibe.

Donavon ended the night by performing one of his greatest hits “Don’t Matter” for his encore. He pulled a middle-aged gentleman up on stage to sing with him. The man belted the words to the tune and did a little jig in between lyrics. After the last chord was struck and drum hit, Donavon thanked the crowd for coming out and leisurely walked off stage waving.

All in all the night was enjoyable. The mood was set for Donavon by the warm weather and opening band, the Adam Ezra Group. With a sound very similar to Donavon, Adam Ezra and “Turtle,” his bongo player, set the crowd up for a pleasant evening.

I must admit that I had not listened to Donavon Frankenreiter before my preparation for last night’s concert, but they are fast becoming one of my favorite bands. His music echoes other soft rock musicians such as Eric Clapton and Jason Mraz. It’s hard to feel anything, but happy when listening to Donavon. I’ll be telling all my friends about him and you should, too! They’re a great band. Even better live!

For more pictures, check out the WTBU gallery here.

By: Danielle Medina

Inspired by bands such as Thrice and La Dispute, Adam Szulczewski (guitar), Nick Osborne (drums, ex-Like Beasts), and John Snyder (guitar, vocals) began writing in summer 2011. Native Wildlife began playing shows immediately after the addition of bassist Jacob Davidson and former Executions vocalist/lyricist Steve Massaroni jumped on to form Native Wildlife. This five-piece, post-hardcore band is just beginning to infiltrate the Boston scene, and have just released their EP American Mischief. They are currently trying to win Battle of the Bands for Warped Tour.

Please take a moment to vote for them here: http://warped.battleofthebands.com/u/nativewildlife.

You can stream their album at http://nativewildlife.bandcamp.com.

Thursday was a beautiful day in Boston, and a great show that night at the House of Blues kept that feeling going. I wished the roof could have opened up so we could see the stars instead of the disco ball above Grouplove and Young the Giant while they performed.

There were only two acts and the show sold out months in advance. The crowd seemed to be just as excited to see Grouplove as they were to see Young the Giant, so it made for a continuously energized show.

The weather complimented Grouplove’s aesthetic. They looked like they belonged at an outdoor festival like Coachella, with Hannah Hooper, one of the vocalists, wearing a long flowery pink dress and the rest of the band generally abstaining from conventional haircuts and colors.

The crowd jumped and sang in response to the band’s high energy onstage. One of their more popular songs, “Tongue Tied” sounded different but almost more appealing live, with the synthesizers on their album replaced by real instruments onstage.

Grouplove finished off one of their songs by turning it into a medley with Whitney Houston’s “I Want to Dance with Somebody,” which was fun and unexpected.

Before ending their set with “Colours,” they ended their set by thanking local radio stations in Boston for playing their music and getting them where they are today.

Sameer Gadhia, the singer from Young the Giant mentioned that only two years ago, Young the Giant and Grouplove played a show together in Los Angeles and it went horrible; nobody showed up. That is such a contrast to Thursday night’s show that it’s hard to believe.

Young the Giant was the band that played BU’s back to school concert this past fall, and now they’re selling out venues like the House of Blues.

Their setlist contained a few older tracks that dedicated fans enjoyed, as well as two new tunes that everyone can look forward to hearing again on a new album that is in the works.

Young the Giant played a few songs with the accompaniment of a string quartet which didn’t stand out as much as it should have on that big stage.  They also played the song “Empire Ants” by the Gorillaz during their set, which made the crowd go quiet with either confusion or lack of interest.

Gadhia used his signature two microphones while singing, and worked the stage like a seasoned frontman.  However, the rest of the band played with diligence and little enthusiasm.

During their encore, Young the Giant surprised everyone by covering R.Kelly’s “Ignition (Remix),” a huge contrast to their typical style of music. The crowd loved it and sang along as Gadhia sang and rapped on stage.

The crowd really erupted during the final song, “My Body,” which got a lot of airplay on radio stations and got Young the Giant to perform on the MTVU Woodie Awards last year.

Since there were only two acts, it seemed like more of a double-headlining show. Grouplove had so much energy and the amount of fun they had on stage showed on their faces.

Young the Giant is really blowing up around the country and that’s only proven by the fact that they managed to sell out the House of Blues on a Thursday night.

Grouplove: http://www.grouplovemusic.com

Young the Giant: http://www.youngthegiant.com

For more photos check out WTBU’s photo gallery.

By: Deanna Archetto