LORD HURON at OGDEN THEATRE | 2/21/14 When the members of Lord Huron took the stage, they looked snappy, as though each member had actually taken the time to look like he was in a band but without hitting us over the head with a visual representation. The band's music, mostly folk and rock-oriented, was guided by Ben Schneider's words, which vividly offered a sense of place, particularly on songs like "I Will Be Back One Day" and "The Ghost On The Shore." Bring a poetic imagination to the lyrics, Schneider eloquently took great care with their delivery.
See also: Superhumanoids: "We try pretty hard not to make something that's too nostalgic."
The music of Lord Huron carried a sense of earnestness, and the shared enthusiasm of the band and a clear joy in performing the songs elevated the collective experience of the show. The headlining set wasn't much longer than that of Superhumanoids, which opened the show, which seemed like a clear nod to the friendship between the two. By the end of Lord Huron's set, people were loving the show and calling for another, not merely one more song, and Lord Huron obliged the crowd with an encore that included "Brother."
Earlier in the night, there was something hazy and calming, melancholy yet uplifting about Superhumanoids' set. The band's drummer created a textured, syncopated beat that complimented the generally gentle flow of the band's melodies. Sarah Chernoff clearly put real emotional force behind her singing, and Cameron Parkins and Max St. John both displayed a focused intensity in their own vocal performances. As a result, the songs had a light touch that was emotionally involving.
The band's set drew mostly from its latest album, 2013's Exhibitionists, but it also included a song from the group's debut 7-inch, 2010's Urgency, "Hey Big Bang," arguably the most visceral song of the set with strong guitar work from Parkins. It was the newer songs, though, that felt like the group was making music in its own voice not connected directly to any obvious influences. Superhumanoids ended its set with an instrumental that almost seemed to be made up on the spot. The band didn't spend a lot of time talking between songs except to thank Lord Huron and express gratitude to a crowd that may have surprised it with a bit with the enthusiasm shown its set.
Personal Bias: I like how Superhumanoids have taken disparate influences and channeled those into their own chilled out but luminous pop music. Random Detail: The show started promptly at 9 p.m. By the Way: If you smoke and you're on stage, you get a pass. Off stage in the audience? Not cool.
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