Last night's show at the John Waldron Arts Center reminded me of reading a Douglas Coupland novel. Both sets by Tammar and Beach House put me in a pensive mood that's similar to how I feel after reading his books. I was kind of expecting this though, as both bands seem pretty moody and introspective themselves.
Bloomington's own Tammar took the stage shortly after 9 pm. I think this was the third time I've seen them in the past month, but that's definitely not a complaint. I really like Tammar because they seem to know exactly what kind of music they're making and how to make it well. The drumming was steady and strong, and the vocals echoed euphorically throughout the venue.
They started off with "Dig a Hole" and played one of their best songs, "Emily's Army" shortly after. Their set was haunting and coma inducing, which was perfectly fitting for what was to come.
They ended their set on a new song named Reike, which was my favorite of the night. It was a slower tune, and sustained their lush and ghostly vibe.
Tammar provided the perfect segue into Beach House. After witnessing their performance at last year's Culture Shock, I had definitely been anticipating seeing them. It was a perfect venue for them, with a change from the less intimate outdoor venues where I'd seen them before.
The dreamy-duo had just come from a show in Lexington, Ky, where they had apparently made fun of the crowd for drinking Bourbon. For Bloomington, they referenced coming to last year's Rock N Roll prom and enjoying the Bjork cover band that played.
They started their set off with "Gila" which is probably one of their more well known songs. While Beach House was still seductive and entrancing, their mood seemed to be different from the last time I'd seen them. They seemed less vulnerable and more confident. Their set was more intense, but they were still the kind of band with whom I could feel a connection.
Victoria thanked Tammar for playing and then continued with "Wedding Bell", another song off their sophomore release, Devotion. The title of the song made me realize that their music, while obviously atmospheric, is sometimes hard to pin down. It's shadowy but clear; dark but light. It's music for a wedding or for a funeral.
They played quite a few new songs, which were even darker and more intense. Although I usually prefer to hear songs that I know, these were some of the best of the night.
They played my favorite and the first song I'd ever heard by them, "Master of None". This song sounded more refined than the last time I'd heard it, and with Alex using a slide on his guitar, it gave the song a grittier feel.
They ended on "Heart of Chambers" which was idiosyncratically spacey and sensual. The band went off stage, and it would have been the perfect ending but the crowd yelled out for more.
"We'll sing you a good night song," Victoria announced as they came back on stage.
And it truly was a good night song. They played the slow and calming, "Apple Orchard", which was the perfect song to unwind to and I left the show feeling more than content.
-Katie
All Photos Courtesy of David Hassell
