Tune-YardsShrouded in a stage of drum kits, bongos and keyboards, Victorian DD Dumbo (or Oliver Perry) launched his voice across the OAF, intertwining his sweet Merrill Garbus-esque vocal range with looping beats and melodies. A true child of the headliners’ heart, there could not have been a better support, Perry creating the well-needed ripple in the crowd that would soon become a wave.
Kicking off with this year’s release, Sink-O, Tune-Yards mastermind Garbus locked her eyes forward, staring down fans hanging on her every movement. As the song reached its climax, her choreographed drumming and back-up singers/dancers bounced and flailed in a rush of colour. All five members of the band, including sole male, bassist Nate Brennan, were decked out in tight, bright outfits and glitter, New England’s Garbus adorned in a red leather top with gold puffy sleeves. It’d be truly difficult to image Tune-Yards any other way.
An experimental mix between indie-pop, Afrobeat, lo-fi and more, Tune-Yards not only showcased their excitingly odd and upbeat repertoire, but also demonstrated their catalogue’s musical complexity. Keeping the crowd enthralled with the help of a loop pedal, Garbus seamlessly recorded intricate percussion and layered vocal harmonies, Powa showcasing her amazing vocal range in three-part harmony alongside the hero of the night, her ukulele.
Tonight’s five-piece mainly showcased the new, third record, Nikki Nack, Left Behind shining above the rest, a cappella voices and sass filling the room. Meanwhile, usual favourite, Bizness, and this year’s single, Water Fountain, were naturally met with love.
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However, the band’s jovial attitude was probably the night’s highlight, Garbus exaggerating her characteristic gibberish during a killer rendition of Gangsta, with laughter all around. This is not to confuse frivolity with a lack of focus. You can’t deny their professionalism. Tune-Yards are an acquired taste but sometimes you just gotta relax and have a dance.
