local natives: the excellent world news...

i got really lucky last night--everything was going to plan. caught the ferry just after 8, arrived on the island after the first of two opening bands performed, shimmied my way past the drinking revelers (it was gonna be a dry night for me, at least until after the show) and up to the stage (it was maybe 10 deep where i stood)...and then i eased my way to some free space, off to the side but a bit closer to the stage, near what i assume was the vip/press section, on the river side of the beach.

i caught we barbarians' full set. i liked their energy.


the only fly in the ointment of my evening was a twenty-something, joe francis-trainee who was sharing that area too. honestly, everything about this kid was foul--especially his ciggies, his beer spilling, his indecent sense of space, and his posse, which included a shrill drunk girl. he apparently lost a contact lens right before the main event. it seemed deserved. there were good souls who "lit" their iphones and got down on the sticky ground to help him find it. good for them.

anyway, you can hear everyone clapping, just aside the beat. thankfully drunk people only have the stamina for short bursts of bad singing and clapping. (i was actually sort of charmed by that part.) and by then i was just happy. the band is so, so good.

i wish the video quality was better, but hopefully you can appreciate their music, style and showmanship...