Strange folksters Akron/Family just released a new album, Sub Verses. Their tour supporting it brought them to Bowery Ballroom for their first New York show in nigh a year. With a sound that is often described as rustic or tribal, but sometimes much weirder within the electronic spectrum, they’ve been fairly unpredictable with their live shows and releases. There were no exceptions to that rule tonight.
Eric Copeland (Black Dice) and M Geddes Gengras opened the night. Each wove their own sort of soundscape. Where M Geddes’s composed music more ambient and reserved, Eric’s set went off the deep end into the thrashy depths of psychedelia. M Geddes would return to the stage later to provide his talents for Akron/Family’s set, an interesting addition to the trio.
The set list from A/F tonight was dominated by Sub Verses. The end result was a lot of watching and standing around gaining familiarity to the new tracks, which come out harsh live. The crowd, unfortunately small this evening, only ever was roused for the couple of older hits played: “Light Emerges” and bonfire anthem, “Ed is a Portal,” which closed out the night. It was definitely a step down in fun since their last time around. I’m willing to give them another go as Sub Verses matures, with a more balanced set list all should be well.
[photos by Marie Flounoy]
