From start to end, Animal Collective dosed the Henry Fonda audience with psychedelic joy. While many may have found the re-scheduled LA Animal Collective shows a little inconvenient, I praise the music gods for affording me such unbelievable luck. With Matt at Noise Pop and CraSh in Germany, Jeremiah and I swooped in for the kill on this incredible show.
Contrary to rumors that little of the new album would be played, the new album was heavily represented in the set list. Commencing the show with the first two tracks from Merriweather Post Pavilion, the excitement swelled from the first notes played. Shrouded in a heavy haze and hidden by bright mono-chromatic colors reflecting off the fog, the audience was able to engage with the music rather than gawk at a silhouetted Animal Collective. Playing “The Purple Bottle”, “Slippi”, “Who Could Wind Rabbit”, “Peacebone” and other classics, the band showcased their catalogue for two hours, going over the venue’s curfew.
In comparison to my previous experiences seeing the band, one of which included a Coachella performance with all members wearing long, white tunics while exploding bright paint on their face, this show was tamer; brimming more with enthusiasm than shock. Fist pumping, convulsive hand gestures, and full-body swaying, the crowd contributed both amusement and charm to the evening.
The entire theater stomped and chanted for the encore in unison and the band promptly returned with what was a climactic and triumphant finale. Animal Collective eased into Panda Bears Comfy In Nautica and Leaf House, the venue erupted into a frenzy to take the night out.
