Let us ask…

1. What would happen if Bob Dylan met MGMT?

2. Would we like this union or it is just too shocking to dream up?

3. Will we ever be prepared for the precarious alliance?

Folks, it has happened. And we dig it. The result henceforth comes – the blessed odyssey of Night Moves and their debut album Colored Emotions.

A psychedelic trio from Minneapolis with a renegade voice and Americana tenderness, this young band was formed by vocalist and guitarist John Pelant, multi-instrumentalist Mark Ritsema and bassist Micky Alfano in late 2009. The crew originally met at Southwest High School in Minneapolis and after a few detours (to and from college, and back again) the shape of the band slowly took form.

Night Moves recently finished an opening circuit for Polica (one of our favorite Coachella acts) and toured with Lord Huron (our favorite Bonnaroo act) last winter – needless to say, this trio have found themselves in good company.

We caught the third show in the bands North American tour Friday night at The Mohawk, one of Austin’s iconic indie venues. Immediately, the pop freak-folk outfit coming from the dim lit stage settled our restless minds and assured we were going to be in good listening company.

Night Moves began their set in perfect harmony. With a lyrical core, the ensemble set fire to a semi-packed room. Pelant’s seamless howls paired with the band’s keen ability to build around the notable vocals created a joyous classic odyssey – one that breaches genre stereotypes and found a shape shifting collaboration of washed reverb, hazy percussion and honey-drenched folk vocals.

As Pelant moved into the third track he confided, “This song use to be called ‘Cosmic Titties’ – so light them boobs.” No doubt, the noble sense of humor of a young band taking themselves seriously but not too seriously is the formula for twenty-first century cosmic-music gold.

Indeed, full of colored emotions, songs like “Headlights” and “Country Queen” really conjured a full spiritual energy around these carefully constructed and tender tracks. Pelant’s endearingly incessant side-to-side head bob could have also had something to do with the memorability of the professional set.

And professional isn’t to say boring – the twenty-somethings glittered a powerful performance. The kind of performance you find yourself begging for more of even as the lead bids adieu with a slick line like, “We’re gonna kiss you goodnight with this last one.”

Until next time, we’ll be waiting in the faded lines of Night Moves delicious psychedelic arrangements.