Local Natives | Indie Buddie

It’s been 6 years since Los Angeles’ Local Natives played Dublin so the crowd that packed into The Academy Dublin were thirsty and long overdue a show from the five piece. The pressure was on for the band to deliver and they didn’t disappoint.

Support came from One True Pairing the alias of former Wild Beasts songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Fleming. Laced in choppy synths with a sticky beat provided by drum machines Fleming lays out his moody passionate tunes as his deep baritone resounds throughout. His stance is simple as his striking jangles on guitar pulsate and jaggedly maneuver throughout. He ventures from wild indie hued electronic with a pinch of country peppering in tracks like ‘I’m not Afraid’ to more beat heavy psychedelic dance – esque tunes like ‘Down At The Factory’ with ease giving the crowd something to dance and mosh to. The shredding guitar solo in ‘Down At The Factory’ is something to be admired and is unforgettable live. He keeps everything simple allowing his tracks talk for themselves. His music is intense and filled with anguish and emotion – intriguing and wholly consuming. An enjoyable start to the night.

Local Natives take to the stage. The crowd cheer as they blast straight into their infectious passionate tunes. These guys are known for their indie rock sound and wonderful harmonies but, on stage they take things to another level. Their tunes become more rich and vibrant as if this is what they were created for – the raw energy of the live scene. The timeless gems from their new album ‘Violet Street’ adorn the set list. The embellishments with vivid beats and blood rushing adrenaline on guitar add to the live experience. Very cool and energetic on stage the band command attention especially Taylor Rice who wiggles and bops continuously. He springs into the crowd for ‘Sun Hands’ jumping among them as they bellow the lyrics “And when I can feel with my sun hands, I promise not to lose her again” while forming a circle around him. The band of multi instrumentalists swap between guitar, bass, keys and vocals regularly keeping the set fresh as they showcase their mesmerising skills and wonderful vocal tones while the crowd cheer for each of them. They don’t waste too much time chatting they try to pack in as much of their tasty luscious tunes as possible. Couples in the crowd sway, embraced in each others arms for ‘You & I’ and twist and mosh through the heavier tunes. The night travels at a fast pace as the time flies with each exhilarating track. It was a smooth and vibrant show with tracks from their back catalog (four album’s long) making a welcome appearance such as ‘Black Balloons’ which Rice explains “ we haven’t played this one in years”.

Rice’s attempt to flatter the crowd with a speech about how much he loves Dublin turns slightly sour as he includes Dublin in “our UK tour” the crowd boo at this statement while, now on guitar Ryan Hahn places his head in his hands. The explanation that he didn’t get to finish his sentence and he was going to say UK and Irish tour didn’t quite sit well with the crowd but a quick save with ‘Megaton Mile‘ won them over. The band play ‘When am I Gonna Lose You’ which calls for celebration as Rice announces his first child is due in one month. The harmonies in this bands tracks are luscious and Kelcey Ayer’s mesmerising vocal range is immaculate as he confidently executes his sweet falsetto on ‘Coins’ and ‘Airplanes’.

Local Natives put on a memorable and fantastic show complete with a stunning and dazzling light display. Their confidence oozed from the stage creating a fun and vibrant atmosphere and their tunes are so groove-filled, crashing, energetic and refined you can’t help but dance along. The band finish their set on a massive high with ‘Who Knows Who Cares’ as the crowd sing the last part for the band. These guys have been around since their debut album ‘Gorilla Manor’ in 2009 yet their sound is so fresh, compelling and enjoyable. I’ll be looking forward to their next show.