The War on Drugs easily played the best show I’ve ever seen at NBI on Monday night and incidentally, it was also one of the best performances I’ve been privy to all year. Something has changed at NBI in recent times. This used to be a venue not exactly revered for its sound quality and as a result, I had some reservations about seeing a band so renowned for its sonic layering and subtle tweaks play at a place seemingly fit for a band with a much more scaled back sound. I was wrong and the sound for the evening couldn’t have been better. What followed was a truly exceptional set by The War on Drugs that showcased all the nuances of their wall of sound with nothing compromised and nothing lost.

The War on Drugs opened with Baby Missiles, an incredibly catchy and raucous tune that initially appeared on the band’s Future Weather EP. With a jittery Bruce Springsteen feel, some brilliant guitar leads and a raw Neil Youngesque harmonica solo, this was a song that everyone wanted to hear and the band didn’t waste any time getting to it. This was followed up by Comin Through, an equally impressive and hypnotic number.

While most of the set list was devoted to playing songs off of Slave Ambient, their subsequent encores included a couple tracks off their 2008 release Wagonwheel Blues, including Taking the Farm and Arms Like Boulders. It’s difficult to say however that any of the aforementioned songs took precedence over anything else that was played as The War On Drugs simply blew their audience away and it seemed like everyone was swept up in their sonic wake. Everything, including drawing an additional guitarist from the crowd (rarely a good idea) for their song Brothers didn’t detract at all from the bands flawless performance.

What makes The War On Drugs such a powerful creative force and excellent live act is the ease in which the band pulls from its diverse influences. While this is clearly heard on their recent release Slave Ambient, it becomes that much more apparent live. Adam Granduciel’s all too familiar vocals that evoke Americana icons like Dylan and the Boss are perfectly complimented by shoegazer synth drones and reverb laden guitar riffs that linger and almost call out. These influences all come together to create a dense wave of sound that remains steady and chugs along like some kind of unrelenting psychedelic locomotive. The sound that they managed to create had me absolutely spellbound and what seemed like a half hour set ended up being an hour and twenty minutes of pure bliss.

Words: Alex Boehm

Be Sociable, Share!

•