With the release of their seventh full-length album, “Transference,” earlier this year, the Austin, Texas band Spoon cemented their status as the band of the decade. That’s seven great albums in a row over the last 15 years, hewing close to their signature sound while embracing growth and experimentation. And they’re not just consistent, they’re also relevant. They’re as responsible as anyone else for the “indie” craze which currently dominates the culture; basically, if you’ve seen a movie trailer in the last ten years, you’ve heard them. Upbeat tracks like “The Way We Get By,” “Sister Jack” and “The Underdog” are embedded in the nation’s consciousness.
It’s one thing to be an unstoppable force in the studio, but to truly claim the crown, you need to put on one hell of a live show to back it up. And that’s just what they did at Salt Lake’s In The Venue on Wednesday, April 7.
Micachu and the Shapes took the stage first at 8:15 p.m. Their set could best be described as one big question mark. Deerhunter was next, and as good a warm-up band as I’ve seen. Relying heavily on steady drumbeats and walls of deafening guitar noise, they managed to hold the attention while still ratcheting up anticipation.
At 10:30 pm the boys from Spoon finally came out to cheers and applause. Wasting no time, they immediately launched into their first four songs with no breaks in between. Frontman Britt Daniel is the consummate performer. He flails, shakes, shuffles and struts through the songs, all without missing a beat on the guitar or the vocals. He’ll frequently break into an infectious smile mid-song. This man is having fun, and he wants you to know it. And since Spoon’s tunes are built on swinging rhythms and energetic melodies, it’s the perfect visual accompaniment.
They played well into midnight, a 22 song set, and still left the crowd wanting more. But their greatest accomplishment is making music so breezy and fun without sounding disposable. There’s real depth and artistry to these songs. And after a show like this it’s possible to imagine the band’s best work is still ahead of them.
