Review: of Montreal at The Regent Theater, Los Angeles
WHIMSICAL INDIE POP, PSYCHEDELIC PROJECTIONS, AND A CAST OF MASKED CHARACTERS - delighted The Regent Theatre at of Montreal’s tour date in Downtown LA, featuring their new album, Lady On The Cusp. The band’s theatrics captivated the crowd, spinning them into a fantastical world of neon colors and bouncy dancing.
of Montreal, led by Kevin Barnes, traveled from their home of Athens, Georgia. They’ve released over 20 albums since 1997, captivating a cult of fans of all ages; graying folks in band tees and new crops of indie kids grooved in unison at the show. Though genre-defiant, their psych pop soundscapes recall the likes of The Beatles’ Revolver era and Talking Heads.
Playful world-building sets the band apart. Lady On The Cusp’s album art (by David Barnes, of Montreal’s art director and Kevin’s brother) feels like an anti-capitalist acid trip met Where’s Waldo — and their performance channeled this chaotic, colorful energy.
Fleshy and boney heads alternated on screen while two dancers — one in a flesh suit, one bone — twirled beside Barnes, donning an orange suit and a rainbow-patterned shirt. A man mask bounced around the stage in tighty whities and a foam finger, beside a white wolf head in a rainbow striped shirt. A biblically-accurate angel surrounded Barnes with her rainbow LED wings while a neon aquarium drifted behind them. A monkey mask punched a Rafiki-esq head in the inflatable boobs as neon polka dots flashed.
All the while, the band played a tight set, alternating between new tracks and hits from their extensive discography. Barnes played the circus ringleader, centering the band with their guitar and poppy vocals. The rhythm section kept the crowd bopping with their hands in the air, and the synth’s bright melodies entranced. Their banter between sets indicated the familial nature of a longstanding project (Barnes would poke fun at their bandmates, and the visuals director would project the aforementioned bandmates in a swirl on the screen).
of Montreal brought Tele Novella, an equally colorful, Modcloth-meets-psychedelic-Texas band highlighting sweet harmonies and tender lyrics. The Regent invited a local opener, Sundiver, to kick off the show with dark, surf-meets-psych rock.
Altogether, the evening’s acts cultivated a fantasy to where their fans could escape — an inviting, joyful space.
