The universe has a way of bringing together a varied, sometimes surprising group of ingredients and whipping them together to create sheer genius. Look no further than Swedish/American band Miike Snow for a perfect example. In a sold-out house at the 9:30 club on March 24, audience members found themselves in store for a spectacular show.
Forged from the fires of electro-dance legend and the tradition of the melancholy singer-songwriter, this trio has quickly ascended to the top of the indie it-band heap. Scandinavian producers Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, better known as Bloodshy and Avant, had achieved great success in the pop world, nabbing a Grammy for their work on the juggernaut “Toxic,” by Britney Spears herself. Somewhere along the way they met American singer Andrew Wyatt, and the rest was history.
At the heart of every track on the band’s self-titled album is a beautiful, artfully-written pop song overflowing with emotion straight from Wyatt’s inner depths. The intense beats and meticulous synthesizer work of Karlsson and Winnberg become the platform on which each song shines. With this trio, it is very possible to dance yourself into a frenzy while your heart breaks at the same time.
Watching the band perform live, this was truly evident as frontman Wyatt crooned away while the hands of Karlsson, Winnberg and their three-person support band moved furiously, not seeming to stop once. Never have synthesizers seemed so musical. Amazingly, the two forces did not oppose each other; rather, they amplified each other.
With an image of the mythical Jackalope — which graces the cover of the band’s disc — draped in the background, audience members waited with anticipation. The opening band, Dolorean, a Spanish synth-pop import, put on an impressive show that had the crowd swaying along with their almost hypnotic tracks.
When the band finally took the stage, the musicians appeared in white masks and matching shiny jackets, only foreshadowing the spectacle to come shortly. Quickly ripping into their catalog of their debut, the trio easily captivated the audience. Singing along to each word and dancing to the highly infectious music, there was a palpable excitement in the room.
With an intense lightshow and lots of fog, there was a great deal for the eyes to behold. But it was truly the ears that got the best deal during this show. It’s hard to reiterate how amazing they sounded collectively enough. Wyatt’s voice, dreamy as it may be, still resonated with strength. No charm was left behind in the recording booth. Experiencing two masters of the synthesizer attack each unique track, the beats reverberating through your body, is nearly indescribable.
But most surprising of all was how much edgier their music sounded live. It was far more intense and voracious, clawing its way to your eardrums. In rare fashion, some of the songs — notably “Silvia” and “Plastic Jungle” — sounded better live than they did on the album. Here the instrumentation is let loose. There was a new level of depth added to their music when they perform and they show the extent of their craftsmanship. Yet it takes nothing away from the disc; it only enhances it.
The show offered fans great satisfaction by hearing songs that they had previously listened to in their bedrooms, cars or wherever else they went with their music players, finally done justice with a live performance. With a band so new and original, it can be thrilling just to be in the same room with so many other people who share the same appreciation for the music.
Miike Snow, rising to the top of almost every Best of 2009 and Next Big Thing in 2010 list, are certainly a force to take note of. There are many musical comparisons that have been made, but they often involve juxtaposition of two different artists. That is because they represent two distinct and highly credible artists coming together as one. For anyone who has the opportunity to catch one of their shows in the future, it is highly recommended.
You can reach this writer at scene@theeagleonline.com.
