Austin – On a sweltering summer evening in Austin, Washed Out fans hurried through the doors of Mohawk to stake out a spot at the sold-out show on a recent night. Though not particularly surprising for a Tuesday, I would have thought the heat would have deterred a few people at least. But that was not the case with these committed fans of the electro-pop, or “chillwave,” project created by Georgia native Ernest Greene. Bringing along an entire band to perform with him, Greene’s one-man creation took on a full-size presence that night. (Our Will Jukes reviewed the evening’s opener, Small Black.)
Starting things off with the dreamy, yet danceable, “It All Feels Right,” Greene set the mood for an exciting night. Prefacing the song with a dramatic instrumental intro, the crowd cheered and hollered until Greene appeared on stage, sporting an acoustic guitar. Slowly the intro faded into the beginning notes of the song, accompanied by sounds of a rainforest, with birds and animals chattering amongst one another. Addressing the crowd with a winning smile, Greene was skilled at creating a suspenseful build before the song’s synth-filled drop.
Although Washed Out is the Sub Pop artist’s solo project, the touring ensemble featured four others on keys, drums, and guitars. By bringing along an entire band to tour with him, Greene was able to recreate and showcase all of the different elements that are heard on his recordings, and it made the experience that much more awe-inspiring.
With the performance of the disco-like “Get Up” from the 2009 EP Life of Leisure, the crowd broke out into a frenzy of clumsy dance moves, attempting to keep up with the song’s jerking synths and echoes. No one could resist the song’s allure, as the lights flashed and as Greene walked to the edge of the stage urging the crowd to clap along with him. And with the addition of a rocking, impromptu guitar solo by one of the band members to close the song, the performance was one of the most memorable of the night.
The sleek and sexy “Far Away” from Washed Out’s debut album Within and Without featured maracas and pulsing drums, entrancing fans and audience members into a hypnotized state as they rocked to Greene’s penetrating voice. As the song began to fade out, the opening chimes and keys of Paracosm’s “All I Know” began to sleepily fade in. The song’s refreshing flurry of piano riffs, acoustic guitar, and synthesizers had everyone dancing once more.
The set went on to feature tracks from both EPs and full-length albums that have been released by Washed Out since the project’s genesis in 2009. Paying homage to every era of his musical trajectory, the night was an illustration of his artistic range, from his mostly synth-based earlier songs, to tracks like the aforementioned “All I Know” that feature violins and grounding drum beats to move it along.
Before returning for an encore, the band ended the set with the blissful and popular “Amor Fati.” Rhythmic electronic beats paired with vibrant and catchy melodies simulated a tipsy dance party of unconscious grooves and moves.
Reappearing on stage after a teasing exit, each member entered one by one to the sounds of the groovy track “Hold Out.” Ending the set with the well-known single, “Eyes Be Closed,” the mesmerizing night had come to an end. Many audience members were drenched in sweat. Though the humid Texas heat was partly to blame for this, the charming and dazzling performance of Washed Out could have an audience dancing and sweating in any climate. The tour continues into October.
Ruth Griffin
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