Glass Animals Tonight at Mardi Gras World
Tonight the Glass Animals return to New Orleans for their first show since the summer of 2015. In the intervening time, they have released a critically acclaimed record (2016's How to Be a Human Being) and followed it with an extensive festival tour. The last two years have also seen an explosion in the band’s popularity. When I first interviewed Joe and Dave in 2015 they were opening the Thursday afternoon shows at Bonnaroo. This year they were one of the Which stage headliners. I talked a bit last month with Joe Seaward about the reception of the new record, the nature of their live performances and their explosive popularity.
We began by talking about their second record and the huge impact it has had, “It’s really interesting. I think it's definitely more direct than the first record. The first record is quite abstract in lots of ways…I didn't really understand a lot of the lyrics Dave had written, as an example. I can't imagine what other people in the world thought was going on. I feel like on this record, even though it's not entirely obvious who some of the songs are about, the sentiment and the directness of the lyrics I think is much easier to get your teeth stuck into…I think it plays with emotions.” This range of emotion on display in their music give the Glass Animals quite an arsenal for their live performances. “I hope that's one of the things that has excited people about it…The live show—I hope—plays with peoples’ expectations of what's coming. I think that's one of the things I really enjoy about playing live. Being able to sort of surprise people. Some songs that…even in terms of the way you structure the set list. You can really play with people if you take it down, if you have a couple of songs that are slower, you can build up this anger in people. They're like, fuck this I want to dance. Or they can get really into it.” One thing that I have always noticed about Glass Animals shows is the infectious way that their grooves spread through the crowd. Mardi Gras World will be an amazing space to catch these guys as they fill that warehouse with excitement.
Alvvays Saturday at Jacks
On Saturday night the excellent Canadian indie pop ensemble Alvvays will roll into One Eyed Jacks. The group has just released their powerful sophomore record Antisocialites. Since their self titled debut in 2014, Alvvays have been making some of the best dream pop on the scene. There is something incredibly affective about Molly Rankin’s combination of vocal style and lyricism that belies the depth of the stories she tells. You’ll definitely want to make sure you’re at this show.
Diva Dance with the New Orleans Film Festival
Saturday night the New Orleans Film Festival and Big Freedia will present the premier of the film Tropical Punch about the history of Bounce music in New Orleans. The event is out on Crescent Park at the Mandeville Shed. It will be a great evening of food, music and fun.
To Do This Week
Tonight Glass Animals are at Mardi Gras World and Dylan Moran is at the Joy while Wand drops into Siberia. Wand have an excellent new record out and will sound fantastic echoing through the halls of Sibera. Tomorrow Run the Jewels are at the Joy and Songhoy Blues are at Tips. Also Friday the Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival begins and runs through Sunday. Saturday night Alvvays plays at One Eyed Jacks and Sheer Mag takes the stage at Siberia. Sunday Herbie Hancock plays the Orpheum. Tuesday check out Kid Cudi at Mardi Gras World. or the incomparable Spoon at the House of Blues.
To Listen This Week
- The National cover The Talking Heads “Heaven” via Youtube
- Spoon share new video for “I ain’t the one” via Youtube
- Father John Misty does an outstanding cover of Tom Petty’s “To Find a Friend” via CoS
