Festivals, Fashion, Food and Firewater

February 27, 2011

LOCAL NATIVES with the LA PHILHARMONIC at the Walt Disney Concert Hall - February 26th

Never have I seen an audience fall into absolute silence so suddenly as I did last night as soon as Taylor sang out the first note of Wide Eyes. From clapping and cheers to complete astonishment, every single person in the concert hall was immediately mesmerized by the clarity of his voice and the power of the sound as it surrounded us. Everyone remained in this trance-like state throughout the show, with everybody’s full attention on Local Natives and the orchestra accompanying them. Even though the audience remained seated until the encore, the band was still able to exude such energy and enthusiasm. They danced and jumped around the stage, while somehow managing to execute such perfect harmonies. They switched instruments and played around vocally with each other throughout the night. The performance was so captivating that it involved the audience - not through dance, not through singing along (why mimic perfection?), not through applause - somehow, as everyone remained seated, you could see on everyone’s face a smile. Broad and in disbelief at how incredible everything came together. Everyone was so in sync - the band, the orchestra, the theatre, the audience - it was a give and take throughout the night; a subtle exchanging of enthusiasm for music, of a smile for a glimpse into their souls.

One of the most inspiring moments of the night was when Taylor, stalling while his amp was fixed, revealed that playing in the Walt Disney Concert Hall had been his dream since one of his professors at UCLA had brought his class there as an example of how architecture can play a pivotal role in sound and performance. He explained how, on that day, his class of 15 got to experience how the theatre’s construction allowed the music to become fuller through echos and reverberations and to take on a dramatic air as it inhaled the sound at every stop. As an organist demonstrated the power of the room to them, Taylor explained how he knew at that moment that that was his ultimate venue to perform in. “It’s only been two and a half years since that day and we’re already here. It’s crazy. Thank you.”

Oh no Talyor, thank you.

12:46pm | URL: http://tmblr.co/Z6ZO-x3Jco1D

(Notes: 38)