Image from Gorilla vs. Bear Presents:
Last night’s Grizzly Bear performance at the Granada Theater was an acoustic masterpiece to the ears. Though temperatures were uncomfortably high and the group waited a fashionably long time to enter the stage, my psychedelic quota for the month has been exceeded.
Brooklyn opener, Here We Go Magic attempted their stab at the ambiguous genre, leaving me feeling a little exhausted, reaching to give them credit as legitimate musicians. I understand the initial bias of an “opening” act and the lengths it takes to get even a couple head bobs from the crowd. Even so, this mandates any opener to step it up and outperform even themselves.
Grizzly Bear’s explanation for their tardiness was quite sincere and I was instantly content with waiting for late arrivals as soon as they strummed their first minor chords in chaotic harmony. Opening with “Southern Point” off the new album, Veckatimest (Warp) was a perfect take-off to an ethereal Monday night.
Their following tracks were equally solid and on key, however the night’s credit definitely goes to Granada Theater Grizzly Bear lighting. After being to a couple festivals and concerts myself, it’s good to see professionals at their best. The colors were complementary and timing was impeccable. These unsung heroes of the night definitely get my praise, whatever that’s worth.
