TV on the Radio
The Fillmore
Miami Beach, FL
October 25, 2011
Review and Photos by Mike Hernandez
When TV on the Radio’s front-man Tunde Adebimpe sang the seminal lyric “You’re staring at the sun, you’re standing in the sea/your mouth is open wide, you’re trying hard to breathe,” it rang like a metaphor for that night and their show at The Fillmore.
With a sea of waving hands, bodies swayed back and forth in rhythm and mouths agape from singing along to every one of Tunde’s lyrics. The same kind of whirlwind effect occurred within the band itself, as they dealt with the loss of longtime bassist Gerard Smith, who passed away from lung cancer in June of this year. A crushing hand dealt to a band that kept its cards close to their chest, TVOTR had short-lived fulfillment from their February release of Nine Types of Light. All the praise from critic darlings and the masses of fans would just be sucked up in the midst of Smith’s passing. After a set of cancelled shows, they mapped their Summer-Fall tour and have delivered with aplomb performances, and their Fillmore performance was no exception.
Against a star-studded galaxy backdrop, TVOTR made their way on stage with Dear Science opener “Halfway Home.” Guitarist Dave Sitek hammered his guitar while bassist Jaleel Bunton grooved alongside fellow guitarist Kyp Malone, who would at times play stoically and then diverge into small jumping bursts of adrenaline. Swirling through other tracks like “The Wrong Way,” “Caffeinated Consciousness” and “Second Song” in the beginning had the audience clinging on with captivating intensity. This is not to say that there was a massive hysteria that percolated throughout the crowd, as the night wasn’t a rowdy spectacle. More so it was that the fans were engaged and attentive, and would only let loose when TVOTR did, as if they were leading by example.
There is something invigorating and inspiring seeing a fleshed out band that can blend in multiple instruments, soundscapes and genre-bending rhythms and still call it rock n’ roll.
There is something invigorating and inspiring seeing a fleshed out band that can blend in multiple instruments, soundscapes and genre-bending rhythms and still call it rock n’ roll. The wolf-pack of a crowd howling along to “Wolf Like Me” or bouncing with Tunde as he ferociously ripped into “Dancing Choose” illustrates an intangible quality of crispy enchantment that TVOTR has. Their loose demeanor and on-stage camaraderie is an inviting situation to be a part of, but it’s still an engaging affair as it pulsates along from song to song. The computerized chill-wave of their latest LP Nine Types of Light translates well from album to live. The mechanical chimes, soaring synths and layered guitars build upon one another like your ideal wedding cake, and it tastes just as good as you could imagine.
TVOTR steers through their multi-genre catalogue live like a nautical captain gauges through the calm to choppy current. They are built on momentum, a pendulum swing that slashes through chill-wave ambiance to future rock that creates a near theatric atmosphere among the crowds. We (the audience) know what’s coming next and can anticipate how TVOTR operates, but it’s still engrossing and never dull as they continue to be one of the most progressive artists in the musical spectrum.
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