ANIMAL COLLECTIVE, BLACK DICE
RIALTO THEATRE
Sunday, May 31
Ducking in the shadows, the projector light revealing only the tops
of their heads, Brooklyn trio Black Dice forced a jarring noisescape on
the largest early crowd I’ve seen at the Rialto. The budding hipsters
and the sprinkling of older, seasoned music aficionados who happened to
leave their earplugs at home jammed their fingers into their external
auditory canals to stifle the ludicrous amounts of loud.
The band seemed to enjoy themselves, fumbling with knobs and all
sorts of neat-o electronic gadgetry. Their stripped-down sounds were
carefully layered, one on top of another, and included borrowed looped
movie and song samples, and vocals obscured beyond recognition.
However, there were no logical end points to their five-minute sonic
creations, making it difficult to connect with the band.
I tried to lose myself in the borderline-disturbing psychedelic
imagery and the thumping bass, but decided that Black Dice is best
served up while under the influence of something far more powerful than
alcohol; beer did little to dull the auditory onslaught.
Hyperbole be damned: Animal Collective’s newest studio album,
Merriweather Post Pavilion, is a mind-blowing masterpiece. It’s
loaded with an engaging, infectious positive energy, and their live
show was a perfect extension of their far-reaching talent. Animal
Collective is made possible by the men behind the technology: Avey Tare
on vocals and guitar, Panda Bear on percussion and vocals, and
Geologist, geeking out on space-age keyboards.
The opening number showcased trip-hop grooves reminiscent of Massive
Attack, and helped ease into their more frenetic material. A giant
floating orb displayed monochromatic images above the stage that flowed
in time with the music. One of the more pop-influenced tracks from
Merriweather, “Summertime Clothes,” set off a frenzy, and from
the balcony, it looked as if the main floor of the Rialto was going to
give way under the mass of ecstatic fans. Animal Collective tested a
bunch of new material which met with the crowd’s approval. The album’s
hit, “My Girls,” was appropriately part of the encore.
I had a feeling of being lighter than air during Animal Collective’s
otherworldly performance. This show provided the soundtrack to an alien
abduction—and everyone in the building seemed thrilled to be a
part of it.
This article appears in Jun 4-10, 2009.
