A mile east of Union Station, through an unmarked door, behind a bar, up a set of stairs and through a red curtain, is the somewhat obscure music venue the Red Palace. The small brick space allows for intimate connections with young, newer bands like Youth Lagoon, who played Sunday night, Nov. 13.
Youth Lagoon is composed of Trevor Powers, a skinny 22-year-old who looks like he just walked out of Urban Outfitters, probably because he did. After record company Fat Possum offered the basement artist a two-record deal, the small-town Literature major at Boise State abandoned his studies and job at Urban Outfitters to tour the country with long time friend and guitarist Logan Hyde.
In September, they released “The Year of Hibernation,” which music publication Pitchfork rated 8.4 out of 10.
The crowd — young 20-year-olds wearing black rimmed glasses and flannel — quickly hushed to respect the intimate, incense-lit mood created by the opener Young Magic.
The Australian trio, one female guitarist, an adorable keyboardist and typically animal like drummer, looped synth layers with eerie vocals and syncopated percussion. The mixture of tingling guitar, guttural vocals and tribal drums beats created an almost Middle Eastern sound, especially in songs like “Sparkly.”
Soon after, the wiry Powers walked on stage in trademark trucker hat and cuffed jeans. Hunched over his keyboard, synth and foot pedals, he produced an expansive sound. as his frail but raw voice swept through the venue.
Youth Lagoon played mostly songs from his September album “The Year of Hibernation.” The set opened with “Posters,” in which the narrator compares who he dreamt of being at age 9 and who he is now. This theme, a more mature coming-of-age reflection on small hometown memories, thematically ties together an album that already has a coherent sound.
“Seventeen,” which the otherwise chill crowd greeted with enthusiastic cheers, exemplifies the typical Youth Lagoon style: delicate, woodsy synths paired specific narrative lyrics that build to a melodic chorus and passionate but controlled guitar.
Another crowd favorite was “Montana,” popularized by a recent music video directed by Tyler T. Williams.
Powers suffered from severe anxiety, and many of his lyrics reflect times when his anxiety affected his relationships. “Montana” describes having to end a relationship with a girl in his bed in black tights and a Montana sweatshirt. He sings, “I’ve never seen your face so white / Your honesty is killing me / the monsters in the room were all dancing to the music all around us.”
In “The Hunt,” Powers sings of being plagued by “a sickness in my head that wouldn’t go away.”
Other songs like “Cannons,” “Daydream” and “July” were set on a college campus, in the woods or on the Fourth of July, but still describe his haunting thoughts.
In a live setting, Youth Lagoon maintained his delicate sound that recalls a scratchy VHS in soft focus.
Even if you missed the live show, download some tracks to accompany an autumn walk. Begin with “Seventeen” and recall high school, hometown, and heartbreaks; then, as the chorus builds, return to the present with heightened ambition and more determined dreams.
thescene@theeagleonline.com
