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Review Thu Oct 14 2010
Review: Miike Snow @ The Riv, 10/11
Photos by Steve Stearns
If the large, dancing panda in the middle of the Riviera Theatre was any indication of how Monday night's Miike Snow concert went, it was very wild indeed. Of course there wasn't a real panda — although who could tell the difference amidst the abundance of strobe lights — but instead a 20-something bopping around in full-on costume on the ground floor.
Opener Étienne de Crécy started the night with a strong DJ set, deliving an insanely catchy remix of "Make It Pop" by Diplo & Don Diablo. The French producer took turns experimenting with some ambient noise, at one point mixing in what sounded like a distorted laugh track. I was frightened.
Photos by Steve Stearns
As soon as the fog machines started cranking on high and a driving beat set in, 'twas clear Miike Snow was the real reason to be amongst the hyped-up mass of young people looking to get their dance on. The highlights of the night happened during songs like "Silvia", when the trio stole moments to subtly slow the thumping bass and addicting melody to hang on the haunting keys.
Lead singer Andrew Wyatt's vocals sounded amazing live, every lyric jumping off a falsetto cliff and lingering in thin air. Even though I have only a very fragile limit for fake smoke and strobe lights, I surrendered to the discotheque ambiance and danced happily with the crowd, all throbbing together in synthesized bliss.
I'm still suffering from speaker-headache today, but hearing Wyatt sing live was totally worth it. I'm sure the panda bear agrees.
Photos by Steve Stearns