Last night at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, The Raveonettes performed songs in support of their beautifully melodic and hauntingly crafted fifth album, Raven In The Grave, which I reviewed here. The band were supported by shoegaze duo Tamaryn, who helped provide the mood music during both sold-out evenings in Brooklyn: Wednesday and Thursday.

Tamaryn found their way to each other on the West Coast, but they’re decidedly East Coast (dressed in black, lead singer from New York)… Singer Tamaryn hazy vocals filled the room with songs from last year’s underlooked LP, The Waves. This band is the perfect match for The Raveonettes, not just in musical sound, but in their approach to live performance: no-nonsense, ‘performing for performance’s sake.’

And just like that, The Raveonettes were on stage, instruments in hand. Playing through what seems like a discography of songs that inspired countless others after them; bands like The Drums cite them as constant influences. But it’s live that you see how different Raven In The Grave is from any of their previous efforts. The classic Raveonettes drum pattern, that flowery uptempo surfbeat, is decidedly absent when played up against their classics like “The Great Love Sound,” or “Lust” and it allows the achievements of that record to really shine. Songs like “Forget That You’re Young” and “Evil Seeds” place you on the precipice of any feeling you’ve had in droves; hopelessness, willingness or just longing.

Here’s a band that could rest on its laurels, content with creating music that fans and musicians alike cite as the reason for their interest, but they continue to evolve, selling out venues such as the Music Hall of Williamsburg, when their storied history affords them the opportunity to play for much larger crowds in larger venues, arena, even. But they closed out the East Coast leg of their North American tour with instruments in hand, unpretentious and unnerved, honoring us with the chance to experience them, if only for an instant.

Tamaryn and The Raveonettes will continue on to the West Coast in May, before The Raveonettes continue on to the international seas of Spain, France, U.K. and the Netherlands in June.