M83 played a sold-out First Avenue Wednesday night in support of their recent Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming release. Shortly after the album’s release, the show was moved from the Varsity Theater to First Avenue to accommodate more people.
Opening group, Active Child, was an ideal precursor as their haunting, reverberant vocals, enchanting harp, and dominating bass created an erratic but full soundscape. The band was pleased to be in the main room as the lead singer and harpist shared with the audience, “It took us awhile to play here. We’ve played 7th Street Entry several times but we’re glad to be finally playing the main room.” Their set was eery but powerful, serving as an indication that they are worth checking out.
As the club’s lights dimmed and the projector screen rose, an alien-like character invaded the stage, slowly raising its arms as if to ask the audience to take it to their leader. M83 frontman, Anthony Gonzalez and supporting band then took to the stage to perform “Intro.” A dreamlike, spacey atmosphere ensued as a backdrop illuminated with a night’s sky’s pulsating stars. M83’s fanciful sounds emanated as an ecstasy of wandering lights circumvented the awe-struck crowd.
The show’s celestial sensations transposed from wondrous and whimsical to rapturous and rave-like. M83 left the crowd yearning for more with one fan yelling, “Hurry Up! We’re dreaming,” in between songs. The set consisted heavily of material from their most recent work as well as Saturday = Youth and one from Before The Dawn Heals Us. The band gained momentum and the energy exploded as they played “Midnight City.” The band then proceeded into their last song, “A Guitar And A Heart.”
M83 returned for an encore for the 1,500 raving dreamers. As the band picked up their instruments the room’s already heightened energy level ascended from earth’s atmosphere to the extraterrestrial realm. The set ended with two songs off of Saturday = Youth, “Skin Of The Night,” and an extended version of “Couleurs.” First Avenue’s main room looked more like the dubstep venue Barfly as the crowd began jumping, hands waved with insanity, and lights pulsed – palpitating and dizzying enough to satiate Skrillex. Anthony Gonzalez zealously yelled, “Minneapolis…Minneapolis!” instigating another level of excitement in the crowd.
The juxtaposing energy displayed between the earlier verse the latter portion of the show exemplifies M83’s ability to entertain a crowd. As the show progressed, the crowds entrancement was channeled and transferred into a high energy rave. M83 and the crowd exchanged thanks and the sweat ridden crowd dispersed into a wide-awake Minneapolis.
Setlist:
Intro
Teen Angst
Kim & Jessie
Reunion
Year One, One UFO
We Own The Sky
Steve McQueen
Wait
This Bright Flash
Claudia Lewis
Midnight City
A Guitar And A Heart
Encore:
Skin Of The Night
Couleurs
Johnny Nilsen – Soup de Jour, Tuesdays 1-3:00 pm
