Community Corner
CONCERT REVIEW: Local Natives Indie-Rock The Catalyst
Los Angeles indie-rock band, Local Natives, performed a sold-out show at The Catalyst on Tuesday after the loss of a bandmate and a mother.
Perfect harmonies, synthesizing tunes, electrifying melodies and eccentric drums filled The Catalyst Tuesday night as indie-rock band Local Natives took the stage for a 90-minute set.
The mostly-bearded, eccentrically-fashioned Los Angeles musicians roamed onto their platform as the scent of weed filled the air and their knack for balancing upbeat guitar melodies, sick keys, raucous drums, and mellow vocals became apparent almost instantly.
Keeping a well-balanced set list, the band alternated from upbeat, foot-tapping songs to more serious, sullen one – the majority being from their 2013 release, Hummingbird.
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A cathartic sophomore album, Hummingbird holds a much darker tone than its predecessor Gorilla Manor. In an interview with The Daily Beast, vocalist Kelcey Ayer admitted that their separation from ex-bassist Andy Hamm, and his mother’s recent death set a bluer mood for the album.
“We didn’t set out to make a darker or sadder record, but we always write, for the most part, based on our experiences, so it’s a kind of window into the last few years,” Ayer said.
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Off that album came the best song of the night. “Colombia,” a tragically beautiful song featuring Ayer’s passionate and lamenting voice, almost weeping his ode to his mother. “If you never knew how much/If you never felt all of my love/I pray now you do” as the keyboard stays consistent and the drums build in sync with the passion in Ayer’s voice.
The mood wasn’t sullen the whole show though.
As the partially upbeat “Breakers” began, vocalist Taylor Rice took an Energizer Bunny role, over-excitedly gyrating his body as he shredded on his guitar before transitioning into the ever milder, atmospheric "Wide Eyes.”
The soft yet persistent bass and gloomy guitar of the song invites the listener to sway and let their mind wander to a distant place; making it one of their most alluring tracks.
Local Natives kept the crowd enthused, the energy stayed high, and the instruments were played well with passion and skill.
