everythingwehear

The Antlers walked on stage and, without a word, dove right into Parentheses, the third song off their breakthrough sophomore album, Burst Apart.  It was an interesting and perfect intro into a concert that focused on the trippy and extended versions of the majority of songs on their second record.  The end of Parentheses was an extended wild instrumental that clued the crowd into the fact that they would not just be hearing precise repetition of Hospice and Burst Apart.

Next up was No Widows, which had an incredible introduction utilizing a psychedelic-infused piano sound.  This song was one of the highlights of the concert, showcasing Peter Silberman’s ethereal voice and unique harmonies that were not on the album version of the song.

The group followed up with Kettering and French Exit.  Then came Atrophy, which expanded on and elevated the album version, mostly due to an epic ending with all the instruments building up and filling the venue with an expansive sound.

Corsicana did not stray much from the album but Silberman’s yearning vocals plowed through the crowd and the mood set by glowing blue lights only enhanced the overall emotion of the song. 

Rolled Together started with a subtle introduction that slowly started to resemble, then turn into the introduction to the album version of the song.  This time around, yellow lights mixed with Webster Hall’s heavy use of smoke machines created an amber glow that consumed the entire venue.

Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out was sharp and powerful live, followed by Hounds, which for the most part is the polar opposite in tempo as Every Night.  While Hounds was impressive, I was hoping they would play a song that would build upon the prior track.

However, they quickly recovered with Putting the Dog to Sleep which had a more stripped down feel to it, focusing on swirling electronics.  The sharp guitars pierced through Webster Hall and Silberman’s voice had a passion that was building up throughout the show.

The encore kicked off perfectly with I Don’t Want Love, then Sylvia, and finishing appropriately, Epilogue.

The crowd got their money’s worth, with the band playing for an hour and half.  Overall, this was a strong concert showcasing the band’s talents and ability to expand upon their songs, making them more grandiose and musically complex. They weren’t there to play their songs but to take the audience on a journey through their albums.

While I’m a huge fan of the band and an equally big fan of Webster Hall, their concerts may actually be a victim of their success.  The Antlers are an intimate band, creating emotional songs that are meant to connect with the audience.  Even though Webster Hall only has a capacity of about 2,500, something is lost with them playing at a venue of this size, where you are looking to find that closeness with a band that makes you feel as though you are a part of the show.  Even so, they put on a impressive show that presented a confident band ready to embrace the next level of success that the creators of Burst Apart definitely deserve.