Trevor Powers' dreamy soundscape, Youth Lagoon, got off to a great start Monday night at the High Noon and came to an even stronger finish.
Powers played most of the set with the help of a lone guitarist to assist as he navigated his keyboard along with every other sound so perfectly intertwined, from a reverberating electronic bass to the delicately placed, offbeat shimmer of a tambourine.
The synthesis of all these sounds did not disappoint, even compared against his recorded album. Over his buried vocals Powers brings a careful and intriguing mix of organic and pre-recorded sounds to the table, catering greatly to an audience of electro chillwave repertoire, but leaving it accessible to any musical appreciator.
While speaking with him briefly after the show, he said he enjoyed the venue-though he usually prefers playing smaller dive bars more. He also said his monitor was a little too loud on the vocals at first.
"I'm not trying to lose the hearing in my left ear," he joked.
But overall, it eventually improved and Powers thought it was actually one of the best sound systems he has used for a show, ranked up there with a location in Arizona and another in Montreal, Canada.
"Montana" was absolutely gorgeous and probably the biggest hit of the night. Members of opening act Young Magic joined Powers on stage as the song built to a pounding and powerful close, adding an additional layer of drumbeats and tambourine to the mix. By its end, the crowd had joined in as a chorus of voices crudely echoing Powers' emotional wail and showed he was playing to a true fan base.
"Afternoon" was also a crowd-pleaser and gained an element of depth with the presence of live electric guitar in accompaniment.
Back out for an encore, the show came to a phenomenal finish as Young Magic members took the stage once again to help end the evening with "Cannons".
He may just be a kid from Boise State, but Powers travels the expanse of his Yamaha with the expertise of a seasoned musician. Madisonians have now missed their chance to see him live in their city in this time frame, but be sure to catch him elsewhere if ever the opportunity is offered.
