Moon Taxi, a burgeoning indie-rock band, played at The Jefferson Theater last weekend. For many concert-goers, however, the highlight of the night was the opening band, The Lonely Biscuits.
Moon Taxi plays great material, somewhere between bands like Phish and Walk the Moon, but their talent did not translate well on stage. It was like watching a different band. Their movements were largely constricted, and a lack of energy pervading the space made it difficult to fully enjoy the music.
They didn’t sound bad necessarily, but their lack of effort verged on dispassionate, and at times it seemed as if they wanted the visual effects and wordless wall of sound to do all the work for them. The performance lacked. The lead singer, guitarist and bass player all stood stiffly for much of the time and refused to give into the beats and rhythms clearly moving their audience. Moving with their own music would have created a more entertaining environment and engaged audience.
The best moments occurred during pianist Wes Bailey’s solos, because throughout the band’s time onstage he was consistently engrossed with his part. A tangible shift in energy and excitement filled the room whenever he took the spotlight. If the rest of the band had been as invested in their individual performances, their performance would have improved dramatically.
The band’s overall performance seemed further below expectations largely due to the incredible opening performance by The Lonely Biscuits.
The Lonely Biscuits were invested in their performance in every way. Their songs were clear and energetic, and they appeared to be having a good time. Their passion and simple love for music and performing made the audience want to listen and continue listening even after they’d left the stage.
Most concerts feature commentary between songs, and bands must find the right amount. Moon Taxi said basically nothing, contributing to their apathetic attitude, but The Lonely Biscuits were open, funny and honest. They spoke between each song, but their set still flowed well. They talked about visiting Charlottesville and asked for suggestions on where to visit, they gave concise, thoughtful blurbs about the songs they played and they continually expressed how grateful and happy they were to have the opportunity to play at such a large venue.
Overall, Moon Taxi’s stage presence led to a lack of connection with the audience while their predecessors were engaging, active and genuinely passionate about their music and audience.
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