(VIDEO INCLUDED) Schuba’s is one of those venues where you can often see a band on their way to the top. The list is long and littered with famous bands that were just breaking out when they made their stop at Schuba’s and often, they never find their way back because they just get too popular for such a small (albeit storied) venue. Such is the case with Local Natives.

We were turned on to Local Natives about six months ago and, ever since, it’s been heavy in the rotation. They have these sweeping songs that, when you hear the first few notes, you can’t imagine that it’s going to end in well-choreographed chaos just a few minutes later. The hooks are quite simple but the way they are put together is anything but. These musicians are talented and shift with the utmost ease between epic songs and arrangements, stopping only to tune their guitars and occasionally switch instruments.

Then there are the harmonies. It’s really what makes Local Natives special. They somehow found talented musicians who also vocalize in perfect harmony. There can be as many as four of them singing together at once — it doens’t sound forced and it’s not overwhelming. I wouldn’t change a thing. In fact, I wouldn’t change a thing about this band or that night’s performance. It comes in easily as one of the best concerts of 2010.

You will notice in the video below some of the crowd reaction. It seemed that the crowd knew every loop and lyric to every song — no kidding. I even turned to one of the Citizens in attendance if they thought some of the crowd sing-alongs were being piped in. I don’t think so, but it was kind of stunning to hear such participation. You can get a sense of it with their performance of “Airplanes” in the video below. And if you want to hear even more of it, check out this performance of “Sun Hands.” The video is shaky, considering its producer was pretty excited at the time (understandably so). If you want to skip right to the chanting crowd, it’s starts at about the 3:30 mark.

Below the video are Local Natives’ remaining 2010 tour dates. You’ll notice a handful of sold out dates … jump on this tour when they hit your town.

May 18 2010	8:00P	The Mill	Iowa City, IA
May 19 2010	8:00P	Mojo’s	Columbia, MO
May 21 2010	8:00P	SOLD OUT Larimer Lounge	Denver, CO
May 22 2010	8:00P	Kilby Court	Salt Lake City, UT
May 25 2010	8:00P	Empyrean	Spokane, WA
May 26 2010	8:00P	Neurolux	Boise, ID
May 27 2010	8:00P	Mississippi Studios	Portland, Oregon
May 28 2010	8:00P	The Venue	Vancouver, British Co, CA
May 30 2010	8:00P	Sasquatch!	Quincy, WA
Jun 2 2010	8:00P	SOLD OUT* Rickshaw Stop	San Francisco, CA
Jun 3 2010	8:00P	SOLD OUT Bottom of the Hill	San Francisco, CA
Jun 4 2010	8:00P	SOLD OUT Troubadour	Los Angeles, CA
Jun 5 2010	8:00P	SOLD OUT* Bootleg Theater	Los Angeles, CA
Jun 10 2010	8:00P	Bonnaroo	Manchester, TN
Jun 13 2010	2:00P	ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL	Isle Of Wight, UK
Jun 15 2010	8:00P	Shepherds Bush Empire	London, UK
Jun 17 2010	8:00P	Vera	Groningen, NL
Jun 18 2010	8:00P	Southside	Tuttlingen, DE
Jun 19 2010	8:00P	Hurricane	Scheebel, DE
Jun 23 2010	8:00P	Melweg	Amsterdam, NL
Jun 24 2010	8:00P	Glastonbury Old Queen’s Head	Glastonbury, GB
Jun 25 2010	2:00P	Glastonbury Festival	Glastonbury, UK
Jun 27 2010	2:00P	Solidays Festival	Paris, FR
Jun 29 2010	8:00P	Ravenna Hana Bi	Ravenna, IT
Jun 30 2010	8:00P	Ancona Mole Vanvitelliana	Ancona, IT
Jul 2 2010	8:00P	Beauregard Festival	Herouville Saint Clair, FR
Jul 4 2010	8:00P	Roskilde Festival	Roskilde, DK
Jul 11 2010	8:00P	Oxygen Festival	Punchestown Racecourse, IE
Jul 18 2010	3:00P	Pitchfork Festival	Chicago, Illinois, US
Aug 5 2010	8:00P	The Middle East	Boston, Massachuse, US
Aug 6 2010	8:00P	The First Unitarian Church Sanctuary	Philadelphia, PA
Aug 7 2010	2:00P	The Beach @ Governors Island	New York City, NY
Aug 11 2010	8:00P	Pantiero Festival	Cannes, FR
Aug 12 2010	8:00P	Haldern Festival	Haldern, DE
Aug 13 2010	8:00P	Way Out West Festival	Gothenburg, SE
Aug 14 2010	8:00P	Oya Festival	Oslo, NO

Share on Facebook