Concert Review: Neon Indian/Purity Ring/Com Truise at the Grog Shop

As expected, Neon Indian and special guests Purity Ring and Com Truise managed to sell out the Saturday night. This is precisely why I planned ahead and bought my ticket early. But for those of you who didn't get in, I'll fill you in on what you missed.

Purity Ring opened up the show around 9:15 with their future pop sound. The stage was just the right size for the duo as they ever so sensually flowed through songs such as the recently released "Belispeak" and "Lofticries." Megan's voice sounded just like the recordings, but with even better live effects. It was hard not to get lost in the music when these guys were playing. Of course, I mean that in a good way. There was plenty of swaying and slow dancing, and it led all the way through the end before the final song "Ungirthed," which turned the Grog into a miniature dance party. Little did I know, that miniature dance party would only grow throughout the night. Toward the end of the performance, Megan informed the crowd of a 7" split with the band Braids. If I had a record player, I'd be all over this one. You can cop it here.

Up next was Com Truise, otherwise known as Seth Haley, bringing his Jersey beats to Ohio. As a producer, Haley is quite obsessed with synths. So what makes him different than all these other producers out there? He's got the mid-fi, slow motion, synth-wave funk going on. With influences such as New Order and Joy Division, you can bet this set was part of that bigger dance party I was talking about. Com Truise seemed to relax people a little, but at the same time, kept them jumping up and down. Haley blazed through an hour-long set of tracks I unfortunately can't name, but it was a hell of a time. This is the type of live show I like to see because even though I only knew two of the three acts, I knew I would love Com Truise too. And every head in the crowd was bobbing, including mine. Check out his latest release Galactic Melt.

As some herded outside to have a smoke, I tried to weasel my way a little closer for Neon Indian. Wasn't happening. So me and my little five-foot-nothing self had to accept the trees standing in front of me. I didn't care because once they took stage I was in the zone. I'd been waiting to see this act for a year now. Although they were here not that long ago, Alan Palomo mentioned how grateful he was that we still managed to pack the house and sell out. Once the music began, I knew why.

After a brief intro, they went right into "Polish Girl," the first single off the new album Era Extrana. Palomo and four other bandmates chillwaved their way through the best possible setlist. The setlist included "Deadbeat Summer," with Palomo making everyone in the audience put their hands in the air as if they were scratching at something. We kept our arms up for the whole song. Shoot, I think we were willing to do it for the rest of the show that's how much fun we were having. They also played "Heart: Attack" and "Suns Irrupt."

The set also included "6669 (I Don't Know If You Know)," off Psychic Chasms, and closed with "Ephemeral Artery," followed by an encore including "Should Have Taken Acid with You." I was really happy that such an eclectic bunch of songs were played, and that they were played with such perfection. I literally felt like the music was right up inside my brain, but that's the beauty of every show at the Grog Shop. It'll never get old being five feet away from some of my favorite bands of all time.