Photos and review by ALYSON CAMUS
LOS ANGELES – TV On The Radio stopped performing live five years ago, and their last album, “Seeds,” came out a decade ago. Personally, I hadn’t seen them since 2015 and they’ve been missed.
It’s no surprise, then, that their three early December shows at the El Rey Theatre sold out almost instantly. Last month, they played a few shows in New York, and now, if you want to catch them, you’ll need to head to London or wait for the European summer festivals.
On Wednesday night, they were greeted like heroes by a crowd thrilled to see them again. They delivered a set packed with their greatest hits, sounding at the top of their game and performing with the intense energy they’re renowned for. While Dave Sitek was absent, frontman and lead vocalist Tunde Adebimpe was joined by guitarist and co-vocalist Kyp Malone, guitarist Jaleel Bunton, drummer Jahphet Landis, multi-instrumentalist David Smith, and new touring bassist Jesske Hume.
There was very little talking but a lot of music playing as the band delivered nearly 90 minutes of music exploring their extensive catalog, stretching some of their songs into creative jams or erupting into layers of sonic bliss. TV on The Radio has always been hard to define – an impossible sound to sum up in a sentence or even two or three.
“Thank you so much for coming out. This is the first time we’ve played in LA in over a hundred of years” joked Tunde Adepimpe as he took the stage. They opened with the goosebumps-inducing, slow-building sound of “Young Liars,” and, from this majestic launch, they hardly slow down, playing every song with their trademark supersonic intensity.
A TV on the Radio show is an adventurous wall of sound, a kaleidoscopic fusion of tunneling guitars, menacing fuzz, triumphant horns, throbbing basslines, and Adepimpe’s commanding vocals soaring above the intricate chaos. As they moved seamlessly through songs from across their discography, they brought the crowd to a frenzy with two tracks from their 2008 album “Dear Science”: the highly energetic “Golden Age,” brimming with jubilant horn lines, and the intoxicating “Halfway Home” with its irresistibly hooky chorus.
Their expansive, multi-faceted compositions weave a complex blend of funk, punk noise, and fuzz, underscored by expansive grooves and an undeniable catchiness. They effortlessly embrace multiple rhythms and styles, shifting from electronic post-dance-party vibes to synth-funk grooves or bursts of furious punk urgency. Horns, layers, and sublayers intertwine to create a magnificent, immersive sound.
In the early 2000s, their music felt groundbreaking, giving indie music a futuristic edge and earning them a reputation as a smart, innovative band. Hearing these songs again today only confirms their timelessness since they have aged like fine wine.
On Wednesday night, even the lesser-known songs were met with enthusiastic applause. Still, the crowd eagerly anticipated the hits, such as the liberating “Wolf Like Me” from their 2006 album “Return to Cookie Mountain,” the anthemic “Happy Idiot” from their 2014 album “Seeds,” and the fiery “DLZ” from their 2008 album “Dear Science.” Each track ignited the audience, prompting vigorous head nods and joyful, energetic bouncing. “That was very fun!” Adebimpe remarked with a smile after performing “Wolf Like Me.”
“So as my friend was saying earlier, you should know every song from these albums is anti-genocide and very much about love in the face of evil,” Adebimpe added before launching into “Love Dog,” an unnecessary reminder that they are also a socially conscious band. “We gotta love on each other for fucking real,” he continued after the song. The room groans with collective pleasure and the crowd erupted with thrilling energy during “Happy Idiot” or the speedy rhythmic drive of another infectious banger, “Dancing Choose.”
With his magnetic presence, Tunde Adebimpe remains the charismatic star of the show, his long arms, often obscuring his face, seemed to physically carry the songs’ melodies. When he was not standing behind a small electronic table, he slayed the entire stage with an anxious walk and theatrical gesture, while his powerhouse vocals dominated the intricate, busy soundscape. Meanwhile the imperturbable Kyp Malone, now sporting a long white beard, maintained a more understated presence on the left side of the stage. The band alternated between earthshaking songs and quieter moments, although “quiet” might be a stretch since the entire performance felt like a whirlwind of sound, an unstoppable storm.
The strange hypnotic beats of “Satellite” closed the first part of the show, but the band returned for an encore of three more songs. First came the serene beauty of “Killer Crane,” a stripped-down track, that stood out from their usual synth-fuzz-heavy mix allowing Adebimpe’s vocals to shine truly. Then, the confident optimism of a line from “Trouble” with the hand claps over “Everything’s gonna be okay.” Finally, they ended the night with the danceable beats and falsetto-laden charm of “Staring at the Sun.” There has always been a profound sense of empowerment embedded in their music, and this triumphant return to the stage only made that sentiment more palpable.
There is no news about new music from TV on the Radio, but Tunde Adebimpe has recently signed with Sub Pop, and his debut solo album is due for release next year.
Setlist
Young Liars
Golden Age
Halfway Home
Dreams
Could You
Wolf Like Me
Province
Love Dog
Happy Idiot
Dancing Choose
DLZ
Satellite
Encore:
Killer Crane
Trouble
Staring at the Sun
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