Photo: WENN
Silver Lake quintet Local Natives arrive in the capital after the release of their second album, Hummingbird, with a loyal following and a collection of tracks that somehow translate better live than they do on record for what is an unbelievably passionate and powerful show.
The band look like they mean business from the off with a trio of songs good enough to begin any gig. New track ‘Breakers’ warms the near-capacity crowd up nicely for two sublime tracks from their debut album Gorilla Manor, ‘World News’ and ‘Wide Eyes.’
What Local Natives do well is flit effortlessly between the best of both their releases to date, even throwing a cover of Talking Heads ‘Warning Sign’ in for good measure. The sweet falsetto croons of Taylor Rice are so brilliantly complimented by the pure intensity of Kelcey Ayer’s voice; add in stunning four-part vocal harmonies, melodic guitars and some of the most fascinating percussion out there and the audience are being treated to a real spectacle.
Whether it be Rice or Ayer taking lead when the two combine, it is awe-inspiring. Lyrically they have matured with their follow up album and tracks like ‘Mt Washington’ and ‘Wooly Mammoth’ prove to be the highlights from Hummingbird. It is the familiar piano intro to ‘Airplanes’ that sends the building into raptures though, a chorus of “I want you back” reverberates around the room with Ayer’s astonishing vocal reigning tall. Interaction with the audience is quite understated, as they continue to thank all in attendance and explain just how much this London gig means to the band finish the initial set with ‘Who Knows, Who Cares’ before returning for a triumphant encore.
The encore builds up to ‘Sun Hands' - the real highlight of the night and in truth one of the best, most intense endings to a show. With a rig draped in lights set swinging from side to side in the background, the five-piece do their utmost to create as much wonderful noise as possible and with help from the ever willing crowd a special moment for all involved captures the whole night.
With Rice in the crowd and his band mates thrashing around behind him, the song comes to a triumphant crescendo and as the lights still swing behind them the band leave the stage to a rightfully appreciative reception. Stunning.
