Filed under: Music | Tags: active child, com truise, show review, tour dates
I'm not big on photographing shows so this iPhone pic will have to suffice.
Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Com Truise and Active Child play in Dallas at the Prophet Bar. Both artists are relatively new to the scene and I think it was their first date in Dallas for both (I could/might be wrong). Both have new albums this year, so I was interested in seeing how these new artists were as live performers. Needless to say there’s room to grow for both, but they’re off to an impressive start.
Com Truise reviews (rhyming) frequently refer to his music as being throwback, synthesizer-obsessed video game music. And to that I say, they definitely have a point. There’s a long line of nostalgia-based artists like Neon Indian and Ford & Lopatin that love the 80s synths, and Com Truise admitted last night that he too really loves synths. Live though, the bass kind’ve takes over the noise. There are a lot of electronic noises that brought to mind failing computer noises, blue screens of death and “game over” screens. The audience really ate it up, whooping and clapping various times throughout the songs. While there wasn’t a lot of outright dancing, there were a lot of hips swaying.
Active Child’s new album All I See is You covers a lot of territory and sounds, but the real star is Pat Grossi’s choirboy-trained voice. It sounds downright out-of-this-world. Paired with his harp-playing there are some definite beautiful songs. Two Internet favorites, “Hanging On” and “Playing House” felt the most fleshed-out of his set. They were passionate and beautiful and in those moments Grossi had the audience captivated. While his other songs may not be as catchy or involving, the atmosphere was beautiful and serene. Taking the stage after Com Truise Grossi said the audience was worked up and he wanted to “get dreamy.” Mission accomplished.
Thanks to Chris with Big Hassle for getting me into the show. Last night was the first night Com Truise and Active Child played together, so catch them when they come to your town.
9/2 Austin, TX @ Emo’s Inside*
9/3 Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s*
9/5 Atlanta, GA @ Earl*
9/6 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506*
9/7 Washington, D.C. @ Black Cat*
9/8 Philadelphia, PA @ First Chapel Unitarian*
9/10 New York City, NY @ Bowery Ballroom*
9/12 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall*^
9/13 Montreal @ Blue Skies*^
9/14 Toronto @ Garrison^
9/15 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern^
9/16 Chicago, IL @ Schubas^
9/17 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry^
9/19 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive^
9/20 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge^
9/21 Boise, ID @ Neurolux^
9/23 Seattle, WA @ Crocodile^
9/24 Vancouver @ Electric Owl^
9/25 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge^
9/28 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill^
*With Com Truise
^With Chad Valley
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