OK, go see OK Go
Monday, March 30, 2009
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Chicago rock citizens OK Go headlined at the Wonder Ballroom in Portland as part of their nationwide tour on March 27, accompanied by opening bands, io echo and Love Jaguar. OK Go has long attracted a following for their vintage rock sound and engaging personality , surfacing every so often in the public eye with a radio hit.
Like a platoon of faux ghouls, io echo tore through a six song set list, frontloaded with reaching yelps and haunting chord climbs. Frontwoman io kicked, crawled, and danced her way across the stage demanding the attention of an audience of apathetic strangers. Pleasant surprises abounded with every turn of their sound alternating between rhythmic indie punk and goth jazz, highlights included the cranial nesting “Addicted” and the gently coo’d ‘tribute’ to their british guitarist in the form of a Beatles cover of “I Want You.”
With a “What’s up Portland, are you ready to dance?” Jaguar Love broke the complacent trance that seemed to hold the audience, transitioning them into a fluid cauldron of motion. The two man, Portland native band comprised of lead singer Johnny Whitney and guitarist Cody Votolato launched into an explosive manic set list, sounding like the love child of Coheed and Cambria and Daft Punk. Looking like a cryogenically displaced 80’s hair band front man Whitney screeched and pranced while Votolato climbed speakers and submerged himself in the crowd. Frantic pop techno rock movements like “Highways Of Gold” and “Bats Over The Pacific Ocean” were always verging on a mess, but when tied together with Whitney’s tireless energy, made them worth the 30 minute gear change, something I wish OK Go had taken their time doing.
Emerging in black suits and pink socks to the chanting of fans, OK Go finally took the stage. Unfortunately, the star fell far the first half of their set, after feedback issues plagued “Get Over It,” forcing the band to stall mid-song while attempts were made to resolve them. Lead singer Damian Kulash handled the problem in style bantering with the crowd and rolling eyes at bandmates “Don’t you guys just love the ear splitting feedback for like five minutes? We’re just going to do like a ten hour fucking blues session, don’t worry we do this every night.” Issues persisted, however, accompanied by a seemingly half-hearted attempt to muscle through “Oh Lately It’s So Quiet” and another song off of their forthcoming June album tentatively titled “Help Is On The Way.” Damian and the boys seemed to hit their gait, though, pulling it out like pros in the 11th hour, fighting angrily against the feedback with “Don’t Ask Me” and a memorable rendition of “What To Do” played entirely on hand bells. Before the crowd knew it, the jacket was off and they were covered in confetti. OK Go finished strong, hitting up classic stadium rock hits like “Do what You Want” and “Invincible,” leaving pregnant pauses to build anticipation and returning for a three song encore after five solid minutes of chanting.
All in all, it was a hell of a night featuring three bands worth adding to your ‘to do’ list, OK Go is scheduled to tour until June, resuming national coverage with Snow Patrol later this year.
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