Black Moth Super Rainbow are really good at what they do. A simple 5-piece at its core with drums, guitar, bass, synths and vocals, BMSR has a full sound that captures analog psychedelia better than any of their fellow Festy-chic bands. The music and art melt and warp on wax and mp3 just the same, and when I do the chicken dance at home to it, I always TURN IT THE FUCK UP!
The soundguy at The Firebird is probably a nice dude. Whoever got college radio darlings Black Moth Super Rainbow and The Hood Internet to play that space deserves an award for effort. But BMSR’s sound is built for festivals, where they’ve made a name for themselves over the years. Being in what is known on the scene as a “medium-sized venue” with big stacks of speakers, I wanted to be blown away. This is psychedelic electronica! Not some nursery rhyme twinkle-dink bullshit.
The crowd (and the openers) always play an important role in the setting of a show. The Hood Internet is my personal favorite of the mash-up artists perusing the internet for songs they didn’t make to mix them together and make songs out of. This has had mostly to do with actually liking the songs he mashes together (FELT X TOBACCO is choice). So when he came out with a Disco-Trap set to open for the most psychedelic band out there, I was confused. Then I was laughing because it’s really just this mid-30’s dude with a mixer and some midi controller with a computer, and he’s mouthing words to rap songs and constantly putting his hands in the air like it’s the 90’s all over again. The crowd was somewhat indifferent most of the set, until Gucci Mane and R. Kelly saved the night and got everyone amped to go smoke another cigarette in the parking lot. Maybe I shouldn’t think like this, but there just weren’t enough drugs at this show. Not enough of that carelessness and free association that comes out in the night to move us all.
Black Moth did play a super long set, and it was sharp. They reminded me of a good local band with their stoic stage presence, constant smirks as if they too are surprised they play it this well and people enjoy it this much. They are somewhat of a renaissance band with their ability to reach Festies and NPR nerds alike, College Kids and Drunk Punks, too. And word on the scene is they got their van broken into the night before at The Royale and at least the Vocoder (a key distinct component of their sound) was stolen. They reconciled in time to do the show, but the vocals and synths in particular were lacking in the mix, which can always be a product of using new gear.
There weren’t enough drugs. It wasn’t loud enough. But this was a great show with a near capacity crowd and I really enjoyed Black Moth Super Rainbow’s dreamy tracks. And the drummer’s ninja mask.
