The return of TV on the Radio has been deservedly met with open arms and their run on Webster Hall is sure to be one of the year's biggest highlights.
In the age where reunion cash grabs are every bit of the norm, the path of TV on the Radio feels a tad refreshing. Perhaps a second-tier act in the Meet Me in the Bathroom scene as they never quite reached the heights of The Strokes, Interpol, or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the band has always done things just a bit different, avoiding many of the genre commonalities that these other groups share, and instead reach more for the avant-garde. And after five albums, the band slowly faded out, never formally breaking up in any sensationalized fashion, but rather stopped releasing new music and refrained from playing live. It's been five years since TV on the Radio played their last show and over a decade since their last album, but it never felt like they'd leave us forever. While a lot of their peers may have fled the scene, it's not uncommon to see Kyp Malone around Williamsburg, his unmistakable, Gandolf-esque beard a clear giveaway as he strolls down the sidewalk near former haunts and around the corner from James Murphy's spot. Jaleel Bunton DJs and is a regular at Union Pool where this summer I, drunkenly, worked up the courage to tell him how much I love his band and hoped to get to see them again one day. Having that wish come true was an absolute joy. Without a walk-on track, suddenly the band was on stage, strapping on their guitars, tweaking some knobs, adjusting some microphones and then began to stir-up the atmospheric reverb of "Young Liars" that instantly had the crowd revved-up and ready to go as the cheers and howls grew louder and louder as the band slowly hit the gas on one of their earliest hits. As the room warmed up to what was happening and the shock started to wear off, the room became illuminated and the vibe transformed into something magical and full of nostalgia. Hitting us with Dear Science, banger "Gold Age" only pumped up the momentum as the group opened up their sound with more exuberant textures and while Dave Sitek was sorely missed from the show the group, David Smith crushed on mellotron and trombone while new touring bassist Jesske Hum kept the grooves locked-in tight on bass. Picking up the pace, "Halfway Home" had the crowd shaking along with absolute devotion and chanting right back at the band as the audience fully engaged in the sheer joy taking place on stage. Dipping back into their first LP, "Dreams" was a real treat and showcased the collective talent and deep inspiration from which the band draws out their killer tunes. Taking hints of funk, soul, blues, doo-wop, barbershop harmonies, and blending them with swirls of punk and free-jazz, the elements of this band put them in their own realm that refuses to settle and defies any kind of boundaries. "What's next, Tunde?" Bunton coyly asked almost half-way through the set and while Tunde responded "like I would know," the smirk on his face was a dead giveaway that what was coming next would take hold of the crowd and it couldn't have been more true as the band dove into their career-best "Wolf Like Me," which sent the room into a near frenzy. Jumping so hard the floorboards began to bow with the weight, the song was a total triumph as the crowd bobbled between a mosh pit and a dance party, the band ferociously chugging along to deliver one of the best songs of the century performed at peak scale. It was total bliss and undeniable elation that confirmed the group's status as one of the most defining groups of the era. Following it up with a run of "Crying," "DLZ," and "Love Dog" allowed for the grooviest portion of the night to take hold and allowed for everyone to relish in the blissed-out jams that continued to hit with utter perfection. As the buzzing guitar rang out for "Satellite," the groove dug in hard and the rush took over the room for a dizzying and reassuring close to the main set. Just as magnetic and powerful, The delicate balance of Tunde and Kyp's vocals were in supreme form and helped reinforce the band's already dynamite performance, but when they slid into a glowing rendition of "Tonight" to kick-off the encore, it felt like a holy moment. Bringing us home with "Starring at the Sun" was the only logical way to end such a phenomenal performance and once again reinforced the legacy of the band that still feels the most authentic to their idolized beginnings. It's something to still be grateful for and something worth revisiting time and time again.
Set list:
02 "Golden Age"
03 "Halfway Home"
04 "Dreams"
05 "Could You"
07 "Wolf Like Me"
08 "Crying"
09 "DLZ"
10 "Love Dog"
11 "Happy Idiot"
12 "Dancing Choose"
13 "Satellite"
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14 "Tonight"
15 "Trouble"
16 "Staring at the Sun"
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