A few words about TV on the Radio

About two weeks back I went to see TV on the Radio at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. I was only able to grab a single ticket, which wasn't ideal but I didn't have a problem with. I can be self-motivated when it comes to seeing music, going to museums, attending a lecture, etc. The biggest difference this time was that I was right in hipster central in terms of geography and music.

The venue was unassuming from the outside but inside it looked like a combination auditorium/middle school gym. Which isn't to say that was a knock against it. There was a very low key, DIY vibe going on, which might be linked to that hipster ethos I mentioned earlier. The beer was being sold from those keg lines that could be run through coolers and there was a big cauldron full of sangria that rested on the plywood table of a bar. The upstairs balcony was for whoever got to the seats first, and it was mostly full by the time the opening band finished.

I kind of stood toward the back and nursed a beer while the opener played. They were basically TVOTR-lite, which wasn't unwelcome but a little foolhardy considering who would follow. I move up and to the other side of the floor for the main part of the show, not because of sight lines but because the beer line was nearly nonexistent there. (For the record, I had two beers by myself, or with the entire crowd, or just with God.)

What I would say first about TV on the Radio is that they are one of the coolest bands I have ever seen live. This lineup had a three person horn section in addition to the five full-time members, and there were a couple of guests who came out later on as well. The main members all seem to play multiple instruments. The coolest example of this was for the song "The Method" when nearly everyone was playing some kind of percussion instrument. People were holding cymbals, maracas, sticks, drums -- it was very basic but powerful. Outside of playing multiple instruments, each member just knew how to rock out whatever they were playing. The drummer and bassist were toward the back and laid down steady grooves that I would consistently find myself angling to see. The guitarist who was in the back was maybe the fastest strummer that I have ever seen. He didn't seem to be exerting himself too much but he was screaming his hands across the strings. The acoustics were a little muddled at times but both singers were better than I expected live. Plus some of the older material that I wasn't sure I knew too well or didn't like as much played out extremely well in person.

The big drawback, though, was they only played for about 75 minutes. That's one of the shortest shows I have ever seen. And although I got home late because of the length of the trip home, I was disappointed that I wasn't strolling in the door after 1 or 2. Instead I was able to shift my weight enough to get through the exit before kids with tight jeans and flannel shirts (are they coming back?) could make it out. Overall, though, I can't wait to hear more from them. I'd say that since that night, about 90% of what I have been listening to is TVOTR. And I'm not getting sick of it yet.