Animal Collective at Brooklyn Steel 3/12/2022 (Concert Review)

March 12, 2022 will always be an important date for me to look back on for several reasons. The reason that’s at the top of the list, is this being the date of attending my second ever concert. Adding on to this experience was getting the opportunity to see one of my favorite bands, Animal Collective, live. My extremely limited exposure to this type of live music was definitely a point of fear and uncertainty, but there was also excitement from stepping outside my comfort zone. Having someone there with me who also shared the same love for Animal Collective definitely helped to make this a memorable experience. We scrambled inside the venue to escape the freezing temperatures and onslaught of wind, and I was instantly shocked to see how packed it was. We had gotten there not too long after the doors opened, but people seemed to be funneling in nonstop. Despite this, we were still able to get what I had assumed to be good spots. I was afraid of how it would be when the actual concert started, but we were pretty close to the stage, while at the same time not so close that we would be forced to look up at the band from an awkward angle. Sadly, we had to deal with 6'+ giants in front of us, blocking our view at times. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this distraction did not take away from my enjoyment much.

L’Rain was such a fitting opener for Animal Collective, and was a welcome surprise after only briefly checking out her music. The live band that accompanied her was also just fantastic, and it felt like they were completely in sync, beautifully crafting a cacophony of harsh melodies. The entire atmosphere that was created before Animal Collective was even onstage really got me in the right mindset to hear the sheer force of experimental sounds that would be ongoing for the rest of the night. L’Rain had beautiful live vocals, and it felt like hearing the song of a siren: moments of bliss before moments of destruction. Pairing her softer and more delicate voice with hypnotic tunes alongside the screams that accompanied intense percussion, was a great mix of collaboration and juxtaposition. Throughout her entire set, I was completely entranced. One moment that encapsulates the energy she brought, was when L’Rain incorporated the jangling of the metal studs and spikes of her jacket into her live performance, creating an ocean of reverberating sound. I had no idea her music would and could possibly translate so well in a live setting, which set a high standard for Animal Collective. 

AnCo blew whatever my expectations were out of the water, by starting off with a live rendition of Time Skiff’s "Strung with Everything". This was a song that took me a couple of listens to fully appreciate, but after talking about it with Emily, it finally clicked. Getting to hear it live was something we were both excited about, but actually experiencing it had me practically levitating. The energy which they brought could have just been loud noises and artificial hype, but it was so much more than that. The occasional pausing of the instrumentation and periods of quiet or ferocity really showed an understanding of how to manipulate the already present ambiance of love and excitement. I still can’t think of a better way to start than this lifting of everyone’s spirits and getting them moving. The set list was curated very specifically, with some moments of high energy and other moments of downtime. Even the moments of downtime didn’t feel like pit stops, where we would be forced to wait for the next exciting song. A song like "Genie’s Open" drew my attention fully, as I had to almost deconstruct the layers of harmonic bliss. From there was an incredible transition into a fan favorite song, "In The Flowers". It was at this point where the crowd truly got alive. With everyone dancing while being packed like sardines, it felt like I was in a mosh pit. There was also a sense of unity in everyone singing along and moving around. I couldn’t keep a smile off my face the entire time I heard those twinkling synths and felt the drum beat right in my chest.

When "No More Runnin" started, the sense of trepidation suddenly returned to me. It’s a song that I could not call one of my favorites from Merriweather Post Pavilion. Would this be the song that had me idly standing around, waiting to be over, while everyone else is loving every second of it? Would I be the energy sink awkwardly shuffling around and killing the vibe? To my shock, this ended up being one of my favorite songs they performed. Hearing Avey Tare’s vocals live was incredible, and I could hear how raw and passionate they were. The harmonies laid out by the band were also just flat out fun, to the point where it prompted audience participation (a fairly rare thing!). I think the change in my emotional response stems from how transitioning a song from the studio to in front of a live audience can change the scope of the song. An example of what I mean by this is how hearing the song in a live setting was louder, and the increased power behind the lines made it feel like it was more vulnerable to me.

The change of a song’s presentation was also something I noticed during the playing of "Applesauce". This was a song I had previously heard once or twice, but wasn’t all too familiar with. The performance of Applesauce had me stunned. The ferocity and vigor that was ingrained in every second of this performance was just unbelievable. Once again, Avey Tare shocked me, this time with his nearly animalistic vocals. I had to make a mental note to check out the song again after the concert. To make this clear, the changes made to a song live from the studio version does not take away from the latter. Putting the same exact  type of energy and power into a studio version of "Applesauce" would not have the same result. Having the same amount of aggression could have the inverse of the intended effect, blurring the song together, and making it feel like one homogeneous blob. After this performance, I began to realize how important concerts are and the ability they have to shift perceptions. 

The sole song that disappointed me out of the entire concert was "Passer-by". Unfortunately, I felt like the problems I had with the song were just emphasized when I listened to it being played live. It’s just such a drab song and feels like it is completely devoid of any of the interesting Animal Collective weirdness or the catchy and addicting repeated harmonies.  This was definitely the worst moment of the concert, but thankfully one that only lasted about four minutes.

The final song Animal Collective performed as part of their encore was "For Reverend Green". Unfortunately it was not "Bluish", like I had been hoping for (sorry Emily), but it was still a phenomenal ending to an already crazy night. The entire crowd matched the band’s energy yet again, and shouted along to each “yeah, yeah, yeah”’s. I have to talk about Avey Tare absolutely killing it, for the third time, showing off his vocal range and style. The gritty and throaty yells had me hooked, and I was lost in the moment entirely. It felt as if the song had just begun after it had finished, because I wanted it to go on and on. Alas, all good things must come to an end.

I left the venue feeling completely satisfied and happy with the experience. It felt as if everything that went right did, and I couldn’t have seen a better band with a better person. This concert definitely opened my eyes up to seeing the perfect cooperation of a group that’s played together for decades. I can’t stress the impact that this concert had on me, and it’s become such a fond memory. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this day, as it’s one of the best of my life.

        With a Grateful Heart,

        Peach Fuzz