Call it being a product of my generation, but given enough time most everything will bore me. 21st century minds demand sensory overload. It’s just fact. Whether it’s vegging out to Adventure Time, or raving at some EDM concert, we’re practically addicted to hyper-reality.
The same rule applies to the music we listen to. We all have our little falling outs with those artists or songs that just don’t hold our attention anymore. To actually be successful in the long run, musicians have to find that formula that allows their music to stay fresh long after it’s release date. Simply doing something different might seem obvious, but it doesn’t actually happen often. Being original is something that’s demanded from all angles in the music industry, and especially applies to a band’s live act.
Breaking convention in live music is a paradigm that has taken a life of its own in the past couple of decades. With our daily lives being what they are, artists not only have to break the mold, but annihilate it if they even want to be noticed. Musicians have been pushing the envelope ever since the media lost their shit when Elvis performed “Hound Dog” on television. Times change, and so do a culture’s expectations. Can you imagine what a Lady Gaga show would’ve done to America had it been performed in the same time period? Riots in the streets, that’s what. And one can only imagine what weirdness will appear in another couple of decades.
It was with this in mind that I found myself walking into the Sinclair and waiting for Kishi Bashi to take the stage. The last live show I had seen was S Carey, and honestly, it was pretty dull. Thankfully, this concert was a trip. While many bands pride themselves on having a tight-knit sound, Kishi Bashi and co. treated their concert more like an impromptu experiment. K’s studio sound is fleshed out and borders on maximalism, but his live show was mostly just him on violin and his tour-mate on banjo. Save for K downing a banana while crowd surfing, there wasn’t a great deal of theatrics. In fact, the originality was found in the music structure itself. A large portion of the band’s composition was improvised.
I was a little taken aback that an up-and-coming band would just throw caution to the wind, and pull a stunt like making up several different beginnings and endings for their some of their biggest hits. The whole thing felt awkward at first, but that eventually gave way to a loveable charm. The whole concert was refreshing, and—for lack of a better word—fun.
But Kishi Bashi is no stranger to stage antics. Before he was a solo artist, he was a touring member for Elephant 6’s over-the-top, whacked-out psych poppers of Montreal. When it comes to going all out on a live performance, those guys just might take the cake. Complete with elaborate theatrical skits, bizarre orgies, and even an on-stage (fake) suicide, it’s like someone took a dial labeled “70’s Genesis” and cranked that thing up to 10. It’s ridiculous. But I can imagine that after seeing Kevin Barnes singing on top of a white horse, the audience went away with the night permanently stuck in their heads.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, some artists like to break convention with good ol’ fashioned shock and awe. We love having our minds blown , but it comes with a cost. When an artist sets the bar for a live performance, others immediately try to top it. Alice Cooper’s act was once considered shocking. Now look what Watain does and compare the two. The only person that I think has yet to be topped is GG Allin—he set the freakin bar when it comes to being outright insane. And personally, I don’t think too many artists these days are willing to smear themselves with their own feces just for show. He died before he could fulfill his final promise to actually kill himself on stage, so in a way, his dark legacy was never complete.
Coming at a time when anything can be found for free online, bands are relying on touring now more than ever. And what better way to ensure a stronger fan base than to put on one hell of a show? Familiar acts like tUnE-yArDs, Kanye West, and Flaming Lips have all cemented themselves as not just great musical acts, but as entertainers. Stadium shows cost an arm and a leg (I’m looking at you, Yeezy) but some performers know how to make it all worthwhile (still looking at you).
While some people think that gimmicky performances take away from the music, I think it’s proof that an artist has more to give than just music. If we’re using Kanye West as a template, we can see someone that has consistently been inconsistent. As an artist, he’s taken left turns at nearly every opportunity, and his live performances have become legendary. The guy climbs his own mountain and even hangs out with Jesus. Even after 10 years, he has managed to stay interesting, and being different has been a huge factor of his success.
Breaking convention in live music gives people an experience. A true success is when fans wake up the next day still thinking about the show. And that’s no small feat. Kids these days have an attention span on par with our household pets. I mean, who genuinely remembers a flat show? That Kishi Bashi concert will definitely stick with me for a while. At least until the next Adventure Time episode airs. Nothing else matters then.