It seems that if Atlas Genius keeps up its current pace, it’ll have a plethora of world-famous, iconic show venues crossed off in no time at all – and rightfully so.
Wednesday night’s performance, one of the last U.S. stops on the band’s fall tour, had the Australian indie-alternative rockers checking Los Angeles’ historic Wiltern Theater off of their map.
The show demonstrated the band’s ability to demand an audience’s attention while delivering a solid performance, despite minor glitches that detracted from the overall show.
The set began with an ominous, eerie tone as wisps of smoke appeared and atmospheric blue lights shone from stage. Chants of “Atlas! Atlas!” rang from the eager audience as a kicking bass line catapulted the band into its first song, the dance-worthy “On A Day.”
Following “On A Day,” crowd-favorite “If So” kept the energy up and the audience dancing. Performed with a little more rock ‘n’ roll edge than the album version, it was a nice variation that strayed from the band’s norm and showcased its grittier side.
“Centred On You” and “All These Girls” brought back the ’80s-inspired synthesized sound that seems to dominate most of the band’s songs and seemed a bit repetitive at times. Complete with short bursts of guitar solos, the compelling “Don’t Make A Scene” slowed the pace a bit but was still energetic and captivating.
It would have been a nice change of pace to see more of the softer, acoustic side of the band. The closest thing to a raw, acoustic sound occurred during “Through The Glass,” when a slight break in the song allowed for a few seconds of swirling piano solo backed solely by drums. At this point, the song took on an aura that was both dramatic and cinematic, with lead vocalist Keith Jeffery standing center stage, all lights on him, as the crowd clapped along to the beat for the remainder of the song.
Multicolor strobe lights did most of the dancing on stage, their bright, bold movements mimicking the extravagant ornamentation of the art deco-styled theater as they bounced off the elaborate sunburst design on the auditorium’s ceiling. However, at times, the lights were blindingly intense, and the audience’s inability to actually see the stage retracted from the overall performance.
Upon returning for an encore, the band paid homage to the beginnings of its success by closing with the breakout hit “Trojans” off its debut album, “When It Was Now.” A more up-tempo version than the recorded version, the encore performance was undoubtedly the highlight of the night. After a lengthy, but fun and energetic introduction, the song’s familiar guitar riff sent the crowd into excited screams, and audience members immediately began singing along.
Though “Trojans” was definitely the most diverse song of the set, the band proved its ability to move past one-hit-wonder status. Jeffery’s keen vocal ability, the catchy, free-spirited vibe of the songs and the band’s enthusiasm made up for the sometimes-overbearing aesthetics of the show, ensuring Atlas Genius a spot on the list of artists to watch.