Local Natives have stormed their way through the indie rock world and I believe possess a future akin to fellow Silver Lake alum such as Silversun Pickups, Cold War Kids, and Airborne Toxic Event. Back home after the Daytrotter Barn Tour the boys set up a Monday night residency for August at hipster haven Spaceland. If you’re 21+, own a plaid shirt, and listen to the dancey folk beats of the new indie wave, then this is your spot. With the Fun band, led by former The Format singer Nate Russ, and Henry Clay People on the bill to open for Local Natives the line began around 8 and was fully wrapped around the building and down a block by 8:45, doors open at 9. Fortunately my friend and I charmed an attractive guy standing in line smoking a cigarette. We really were just looking to bum some tobacco, but our new gentlemen friend along with two American Spirits allowed us to cut in line. This kind gesture prevented my friend and me from having to trek up a hill in order to join the back of the line and cross our fingers that we get in. When a show is free and has an amazing line up one is grateful for these blessed type of encounters.

By the time we got in I barely caught the tail end of Fun. Which in retrospect was very disappointing as their album is on heavy rotation and I don’t think they will be visiting LA for a while. After a “what to be expected” performance from Henry Clay People, energetic yet acoustics muffled the power of their lyrics. The main attraction, Local Natives took the stage. The standard wave of bodies pushed forward. With hardly any breathing room in the front, I somehow made it over to a friend I had met at the previous Monday night. What sparked our friendship was the fact she danced! Really got into the music and danced, not just the little hip sway and head bop. I admired her for the physical freedom she possessed and was determined to truly dance to the music too. The band held the audience completely captivated, everyone bopping and singing along. While my hips swiveled and my arms moved to the beat of their melodic and strong percussions, I slowly started to see other people dancing just a little bit more. Arms were being raised and heads were shaking too, punctuating the songs crescendo. By their last song Sun Hands, after an extended instrumental set, when the singer broke back into the chorus every single person in the first couple rows were truly dancing. Feet were pounding, fists were hitting the air, and the audience was expelling the lyrics with passionate exasperated voices.

Never in my entire show going experience have I ever witnessed a scene as harmonious and spontaneously choreographed as that moment. Looking to my right and left and seeing everyone dancing! This band has a way of exciting its audience with a unique and creative energy that cannot be manufactured. It’s organic in its power, and may these boys share this experience with as broad and as wide an audience as possible. With a few more stops in the North Western States Local Natives will be off to Europe until mid October. Make sure to catch this band while the venues are small, before you know it the ticket prices will be more than a tank of gas.