Unknown Mortal Orchestra almost feel like one of our own. Ever since the band’s first visit in late-2011 (following the online blossoming of the project’s self-titled debut) their gigs have elicited the sort of in-the-know pride usually reserved for cherished local acts. The band’s following has certainly grown in the succeeding years, but that hasn’t diminished the infectious charm of UMO mastermind, Ruban Nielson. Tonight Nielson – a married man, father, and a justifiably weary road warrior – wasn’t in an overly chatty mood, but the band’s performance was no less generous. Much like time spent with a dear friend you know will soon depart, we were overcome with an appetite to devour the whole gamut of the band’s performance.
Nielson and co. were here showing off their funktacular third LP Multi-Love. Formerly a three-piece, the addition of jazz sorcerer, keyboardist Quincy McCrary contributed to a widescreen translation of the recorded work. For anyone who’s seen UMO live before, the increased muscularity would’ve been no surprise. On past tours they’ve revealed themselves as flame-seared Hendrix descendants raised of a diet of garage punk. Tonight, however, they took the amplified grooves of Multi-Love as a point of departure, diving headfirst into acid jazz improvisation.
Nielson tends to provoke envious admiration in guitar nerds, not just with his technical dominance but his idiosyncratic playing style and staggering versatility. McCrary’s work behind the korg allocated Nielson some extra space, leading to a further demonstration of his extensive talents. Finger picking during How Can You Love Me and From The Sun created an illusion of several instruments; while his former penchant for frenzied rock solos was supplanted by several Bitches Brew-inscribed excursions.
But let’s not get carried away, it’s the songs we came here for, and we sure as shit didn’t leave disappointed. The new album dominated, with the paintball splatters of Like Acid Rain and the slimy sensualism of UR Life One Night early triumphs. Swim and Sleep, Ffunny Ffriends, and Can’t Keep Checking My Phone all garnered hearty sing-alongs, the crowd’s united voice supporting Nielson’s increasingly agile tenor. But the biggest response came during the encore, which featured two nonpareil gems of the band’s catalogue, So Good At Being In Trouble and Multi-Love. Both songs exemplify Nielson’s gift for transposing elements of the past to create songs brimming with the scent of new life.
BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
Loved: The hilarious and heartbreaking support set from Alex Cameron.
Hated: Feeling like such an inept guitarist.
Drank: MB in unknown quantities.
