(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 |
(Video, audio and tour dates included) We’re always on the lookout for new, breakout bands. And so is everyone else. Here’s one for you: Local Natives. Their debut album, Gorilla Manor released just a week ago and they’re getting massive pub around the Interwebs. Many critics have already tabbed them “indie darlings” of 2010. I suspect that the lead singer’s Freddy Mercury/John Oates mustache helps, too.
UPDATE: We saw Local Natives live. Read the Local Natives concert review now.
What do they sound like? Glad you asked. Local Natives sounds like talent. It’s definitely an interesting mix – there are keyboards, strings, an occasional trumpet and all of the singing band members have some pipes that blend flawlessly. No kidding.
The instruments are treated as an accompanyment to the overall music and vocals. It’s never overpowering but rather understated; however not unimportant. If you like Fleet Foxes, Arcade Fire or Vampire Weekend, Local Natives are for you. If you don’t like those bands, you probably won’t like this either. But give it a shot. There are two videos below; the first is “Airplanes” and the second is “Sun Hands.” What I find most impressive is that these are live performances, not studio work, but it sounds like it could be. And that’s always a sign of a talented band, whether it’s your style or not. They also do a nice cover of Talking Heads’ “Warning Sign.” And really, you can’t go wrong with covering Talking Heads.
Below the videos are current tour dates, including a stop in Chicago at Schuba’s. That show WILL sell out, so if you like them, get tickets here.
You can listen to Gorilla Manor for free, right here, at the bottom of this post. You can also order a vinyl copy of Gorilla Manor.
Airplanes
Sun Hands
Tour
| Feb 24 2010 | 8:00P | Thekla | Bristol |
| Feb 25 2010 | 8:00P | Rescue Rooms | Nottingham |
| Feb 26 2010 | 8:00P | Concorde II | Brighton |
| Feb 27 2010 | 8:00P | SOLD OUT Brudenell | Leeds |
| Feb 28 2010 | 8:00P | Arts Centre | Norwich |
| Mar 2 2010 | 8:00P | SOLD OUT Heaven | London |
| Mar 3 2010 | 8:00P | Academy 3 | Birmingham |
| Mar 4 2010 | 8:00P | Club Academy | Manchester |
| Mar 5 2010 | 8:00P | King Tuts | Glasgow |
| Mar 6 2010 | 8:00P | Academy 2 | Newcastle |
| Mar 10 2010 | 8:00P | SOLD OUT Academy 2 | Dublin |
| Mar 11 2010 | 8:00P | Limelight | Belfast |
| Mar 18 2010 | 8:00P | SWSX | Austin, Texas |
| Mar 19 2010 | 8:00P | SXSW | Austin, Texas |
| Mar 20 2010 | 8:00P | SSXW | Austin, Texas |
| Apr 18 2010 | 3:00P | Coachella | Indio, California |
| Apr 20 2010 | 8:00P | Solar Culture | Tuscon, Arizona |
| Apr 22 2010 | 8:00P | The Cavern | Dallas, Texas |
| Apr 23 2010 | 8:00P | Emo’s (inside) | Austin, Texas |
| Apr 24 2010 | 8:00P | Mango’s | Houston, Texas |
| Apr 26 2010 | 8:00P | Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack | Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Apr 27 2010 | 8:00P | Thirsty Hippo | Haittesburg, Mississippi |
| Apr 29 2010 | 8:00P | Cafe 11 | St. Augustine, Florida |
| Apr 30 2010 | 8:00P | The Basement | Nashville, Tennessee |
| May 1 2010 | 8:00P | Masquerade | Atlanta, Georgia |
| May 4 2010 | 8:00P | Local 506 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| May 5 2010 | 8:00P | DC 9 | Washington DC, Washington DC |
| May 6 2010 | 8:00P | Bowery Ballroom | New York, New York |
| May 7 2010 | 8:00P | Kung Fu Necktie | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| May 8 2010 | 8:00P | Great Scott | Allston, Massachusetts |
| May 11 2010 | 8:00P | Beachland Tavern | Cleveland, Ohio |
| May 12 2010 | 8:00P | The Basement | Columbus, Ohio |
| May 14 2010 | 8:00P | Schubas | Chicago, Illinois |
| May 15 2010 | 8:00P | Rock Island Brewing Company | Rock Island, Illinois |
| May 17 2010 | 8:00P | 400 Bar | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| May 18 2010 | 8:00P | The Mill | Iowa City, Iowa |
| May 19 2010 | 8:00P | Mojo’s | Columbia, Missouri |
| May 21 2010 | 8:00P | Larimer Lounge | Denver, Colorado |
| May 22 2010 | 8:00P | Kilby Court | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| May 25 2010 | 8:00P | Empyrean | Spokane, Washington |
| May 26 2010 | 8:00P | Neurolux | Boise, Idaho |
| May 27 2010 | 8:00P | Mississippi Studios | Portland, Oregon |
| May 28 2010 | 8:00P | Media Club | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| May 30 2010 | 8:00P | Sasquatch! | Seattle, Washington |
| Jun 3 2010 | 8:00P | Bottom of the Hill | San Francisco, California |
| Jun 10 2010 | 8:00P | Bonnaroo | Manchester, Tennessee |
| Jun 15 2010 | 8:00P | Shepherds Bush Empire | London |
