Up close, Brooklyn-based Celestial Shore are quite a bit more heavy-handed than they are as a studio band, and that’s a pleasant distinction. On one hand, the feathery, impossibly intricate stylings of their upcoming full-length debut, 10x, make their improvisational scores and weird time signatures more palatable as multitasking music. On the other, they were positively metal at their recent spot at the Knitting Factory on Tuesday.
The combination of wistful vocals, cerebral instrumentals, and a generous crank of the amplifier served them well during their short (albeit potent) performance. Sandwiched in between similarly mathy Zula and Austin-based Boyfrndz, Celestial Shore delivered an air raid of sorts that was energized by Max Almario’s precise, unhinged drumming. At once Beach Boys and Death Cab (forgive the comparisons), Greg Albert (bass) and Sam Owens (guitar) added a dreamy vocal layer that culminated in Empress Of’s Lorely Rodriguez hopping on stage for an echoey crowning touch during “Swimmer’s Sinking Feeling.”
Point being that you’ll take away something different from their live performances than you will from their recorded tracks, and it’s always nice when the two complement each other. There’s certainly no shortage of eccentric flourishes in either, especially with Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier behind the mixing on 10x. Be sure to check it out next week when it’s released September 3 via Hometapes and Local Singles.