Live Spotlight ::: ON AN ON with Savoir Adore

ON AN ON
w. Savoir Adore
Tuesday 4/09/13
Drunken Unicorn
Atlanta, GA

Savoir Adore

Coming out in all white the Brooklyn duo, for touring purposes they're a five-piece band, had the look of a hip painting crew looking to make some money while home from college for the summer.  Opening with 'Regalia' it's was easy to see why they classify themselves as "fantasy rock". With it's dream pop feel and building melody that peaks crowns into a group 'caw' it makes for a great set opener to get the crowd prepared for an all around entertaining show.  From there they took us to likely their second biggest hit "Bodies" (the video which can be seen here, looks like it was shot by stringing together 100 vine videos).  I'm a sucker for group sings sprinkled in songs and this made them 2 for 2 in that department.  During the show Paul Hammer, vocal and guitar among other things, informed they crowd they had recently signed with Nettwerk Music Group leading to their latest release Our Nature being pulled and reworked.  The album is available on their tour so be sure to pick it up if you catch them on the road.  Otherwise it will be available June 4th for purchase so be on the look out.

The group had one of the best minimalistic light shows I have seen, consisting of multicolored lights circling under a white sheet laid atop a table hosting Paul and Deidre's key and synboards.  With the additions of strobe lights and a fog machine it gave the Drunken Unicorn the smokey atmosphere we've grown to love, with out the cigarette layer (this was thankfully a smoke free show).  Another well known song, 'Loveliest Creature' had many in attendance singing along as Deidre belted lulling words.  Hands down my favorite song performed by Savoir Adore was 'Transylvania Candy Patrol' off their 2009 release In the Wooded Forest.  One of their more melancholy tunes, 'TCP' has the feel of an Arcade Fire/Pixies collaboration, chronicling what appears to be a kidnapping.  To finish up the band played two dance inducing songs, the first of which 'Dreamers' is the title track of the EP released last Tuesday with two remixes and 'Hold it Down'.  To end the their set the group gave Prince's synthy hit 'I Would Die 4 U' every bit of energy they had left.

Savoir Adore Setlist

1. Regalia

2. Bodies

3. Sea of Gold

4. New Song

5. Loveliest Creature

6. Translyvania Candy Patrol

7. Dreamers

8. I Would Die for You (Prince cover)

ON AN ON

It was far from an easy transition for ON AN ON as what looked to only be 25 minute intermission lengthened to nearly an hour with what looked to be pedal board issues.  With the amount of tweeking and tuning done to the pedal board during the show it was clear the additional time was well served as it appeared to be an integral part of their show.No harm, no foul on the wait these things are bound to happen packing, unloading, and setting up day in and day out on the road.
After apologizes were issued, the band took no time leading off with one of their well know songs 'The Hunter'.

Like their tour mates, OAO had a very simplistic setup that made an impact with two projectors on either corner of the stage shining illuminating visuals on the band and stage ground reminiscent of this scene from Jurassic Park where the lead raptor has genetic coding projected on him.


Two songs that I had listened to many times, but hadn't given their due 'Bad Mythology' and 'Cops' grabbed my attention and quickly jumped up the ranks of their songs.  The heavier 'Bad Mythology' had a very How to Destroy Angels-lite feel to it.  'Cops' mixes sleepy lyrics and busy dream-like instrumentals perfectly.  As frontman Nate Eiesland put it, "We've only have a 45-minute album, so we have to sprinkle in some covers".  Mixing in covers of Hot Chip and Bjork fit very well with their sound. Sandwiched between the aforementioned covers was 'Panic' and their biggest hit 'Ghosts'. When I first heard 'Ghosts' last September I immediately fell in  love and wanted more from the group created from the ashes of Scattered Trees. The song was actually one of the first featured on YouOughtToHearThis. All in all ON AN ON was well worth the delay and I would recommend you like their facebook page and follow them (as well as Savoir Adore) to stay up to date with their tour, news, and video releases.

ON AN ON Setlist

1. The Hunter

2. War is Gone

3. American Dream

4. All the Horses

5. Bad Mythology

6. Cops

7. (Hot Chip cover)

8. Panic

9. Ghosts

10. (Bjork cover)

11. Every Song