Nashville – Electro-pop duo Generationals answered the call of expectant fans at Cannery Row’s the High Watt—a sister venue to the legendary Mercy Lounge. Best New Bands reviewed Alix, their latest studio album (via Polyvinyl) in September, and the band stopped by Nashville in order to promote this most recent release. Although they remained faithful to their contemporary cuts, they still treated the audience to some of the best tunes from their older work, providing a welcome and wholesome dose of their characteristic, synth-heavy sound.
Often branded as new wave and similarly reminiscent of the best of ’80s pop, the New Orleans natives—Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer—still find a way to set themselves apart in a world that’s so inundated with similar acts. The band’s music is rooted in a particular likeability considering the pop world has rapidly warmed up to synth and electronic arrangements in recent years, and fans of Foster the People or MGMT have found their next new and favorite thing in Generationals. However, while some new acts attempting to sell the same iteration of electro-pop just end up sounding redundant, this particular duo is visionary enough to move beyond their context.
But this doesn’t mean they’ve completely shunned adopting a classic look, as their buttoned-up, clean-cut aesthetic on display the other night provided a nice compliment to their likewise rhythmic and organized sound. Listening to Generationals is like keying into the many ticks of an expertly tuned machine, and yet, the band still manages to take this mathematical quality of their music to the next level. By pairing these precise rhythms with the myriad sounds the keyboard is capable of producing, the duo is able to coax a uniquely satisfying melody out of something that’s so rigidly—and deceptively—structured.
Take one of their most popular songs, “Gold Silver Diamond”: while the notes carry a familiar ring, the ghostly vocals progress only to hang for a moment and then pick up all over again. It’s a winning combination and an achievement, pairing such distinct elements together. When isolated, they’d sound far less magical. This magic was keenly felt once the band launched into this number, and the audience responded immediately to the effortless, improvisational quality thrown into the mix.
In a similar fashion, the rest of their set seemed to reflect familiar rhythms and sounds that paid tribute to the golden days of new wave and electronic funk. “Reading Signs” sounded like a Michael Jackson revival and classic shuffle with their keyboard loop. In this song, Generationals really demonstrate what they are so adept at crafting: the combination of old favorites and fresh, inventive elements.
The High Watt only further electrified the band’s already high-voltage resonance, and the place was abuzz with energetic fans and a wired sound. With a generous turnout from faithful listeners and new converts alike, Generationals only served to solidify their name in Nashville—not only did they appeal to listeners of various ages, but they also transcended different, er, generations and levels of music.
Generationals are making their way across the country and will next be heading west from Nashville. Their US tour extends well into March, so there are plenty of opportunities to catch their next show.
Photo By Kelley Brown
Amaryllis Lyle
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