The line outside the door wrapped around the block as fans waited eagerly to stake their claim close to the stage. Storm clouds loomed on the western horizon, replacing the spring sun as it set. Inside, soundcheck for the drums rang out of an open door and echoed off the surrounding buildings. With the deluge imminent, fans quickly piled in when the management opened the doors. As the venue began to fill, the storm clouds released a downpour.
Los Angeles’ Local Natives are no strangers to East Tennessee, as they sold out the Bijou Theatre in the spring of 2014. On their first return since, they packed out the Mill & Mine on a tempestuous Monday night. The crowded room brimmed with excitement as fans awaited the performance of the constantly evolving indie rockers. Joshua Denney of the local Knoxville band Ephemeral claimed, “Imagine if The Beach Boys had five Brian Wilsons…that is what Local Natives is.” The audience shared similar feelings of adoration in anticipation of Local Natives’ first performance in Knoxville since that sold-out show in 2014.
Little Scream, the stage name for Montreal-based artist Laurel Sprengelmeyer, got the crowd going with her danceable, polyrhythmic drumbeats offset by chilling lyrics and vocoder harmonies. Her rocker vibe perfectly complimented the beauty and intentionality of her songs. The crowd responded energetically to Sprengelmeyer’s set, and when it ended, the palpable electricity in the air was evidence of the fact that they began to anticipate the beginning of the headlining act.
After the intermission, the room fell black and reverberated with excitement as five silhouetted figures stepped onto the stage. As the lights came up, Local Natives kicked off their first song, “Past Lives,” the second track off of their most recent LP, “Sunlit Youth.” The crowd pressed to the front of the room in order to get as close as possible to the band, and they danced to the music shoulder-to-shoulder. After the opener, singer and guitarist Taylor Rice greeted the crowd and thanked them for coming out with such force on a night with such inclement weather. He said that the band would play many new songs, but he also announced that the next would be fan favorite “Wide Eyes.” The crowd sang along with the lyrics, “Could it ever be on Earth as it is in heaven,” back at the band, whose lyrical themes often wrestle with existential questions in a way that connects to listeners and makes them feel a sense of community in the midst of confusing times.
During “Villainy,” Rice jumped off of the stage and sang amidst the grasping hands of the crowd before climbing back on stage to continue the set, a gesture symbolic of the band’s connection to the crowd throughout the night. As the set progressed, they played “I Saw You Close Your Eyes,” a brand new single punctuated by an infectious cowbell groove; they also performed “Dark Days,” another popular song off of their most recent album. The band’s friendly stage banter enraptured the audience throughout the show, as well. Even though they played several new tracks, they included favorites from every previous album, including “Who Knows, Who Cares,” which Rice claimed the band played when they were still called Cavil at Rest.
If you haven’t listened to Local Natives, I would recommend that you give them a try. If you missed this show but feel up to a road trip, the band will play at both weekends of Coachella, Hangout Music Festival, Governor’s Ball and Osheaga. While on paper Local Natives is just another indie rock band experimenting with electronics, the musical dexterity and virtuosity of every member, paired with thoughtful, honest lyrics, sets them apart from similar acts. And their energetic music combined with an enthusiastic crowd made a rainy night in Knoxville feel like a sunny Friday night.
