By: Toni Tiemann

It seemed like music fans were anywhere but in Allston on Monday night, site but that didn’t deter Craft Spells from putting on one hell of a show. The band’s stop at Brighton Music Hall was the last of their East Coast run supporting the release of their new album Nausea, which dropped on June 10 via Captured Tracks.

Nausea is a beautifully crafted indie rock album with clean production and dreamy soundscapes from start to finish, a clear evolution for a band that got its start making bedroom-recorded ‘80’s dance tracks. From the opening song of the band’s set, a rendition of the album’s title track, it was clear Craft Spells had progressed from the band I saw open for The Drums in Boston two years ago. Even when the group played tracks off 2011’s Idle Labor, Craft Spells brought a more technical and full sound to songs like “After the Moment” than you’ll find on the studio tracks. 

With about 40 to 50 people in attendance, it’s a rarity to see such an intimate show at Brighton. Craft Spells decided to go rogue, announcing early in the night that they would play the night without a set list. It was evident that the group was well practiced and precise in their song choices – perfectly blending older hits with songs off Nausea.

Many of those older tracks, like “From the Morning Heat,” were nearly unrecognizable from their life on Idle Labor. The songs were played with careful finesse, totally redone in a more mellow way that made for an easy transition into the band’s new style.

It struck me that the vocals of Justin Vallesteros, the brainchild behind Craft Spells, were indistinguishable for many of the songs, yet without being drowned out. Rather, the vocals melded into the sounds of the other four member’s instruments, almost acting as an equal. The music became an intricately crafted, beautiful wall of integrated sounds. For a new album so heavily focused on clean production, all of the songs translated well into a live performance.

“Breaking the Angle Against the Tide,” the second to last track on Nausea, was a highlight of the night. The band drifted out of the mellow opening of the song into a powerful breakdown that ended suddenly, leaving the crowd with no resolve before diving into the faster-paced hit “Party Talk.”

I’ve never seen a small crowd so dedicated to demanding an encore. The modest group stayed and cheered after the lights turned on and the house music turned up until Craft Spells eventually came back. The group closed on a high note, playing the chillwave third track on Nausea, “Changing Faces.”

The Winter Brave, a young local trio opened the night as a last minute addition to the bill. A bit of a strange combination when paired with Craft Spells, the group put on a powerful performance that demonstrated a clear affinity for classic rock. The band played with confidence and energy, dancing around the whole stage with complete disregard for the meager crowd. While the vocal harmonies were pitchy at times, The Winter Brave showed definite promise. I look forward to what the group has to bring in the coming years.

Sad you missed all the fun? You can catch Craft Spells new album on iTunes and stay up to date through the group’s Facebook page. The Winter Brave also has songs available for streaming on Bandcamp.