Elephant Revival: It sounds like one of the many commonly obscure band names you hear every day, but their performance was far from common. While the “revival” half of the band’s name most likely refers to the folk-revival they embody, it took on a new meaning at the Majestic Friday night as their jovial romp revived a room of souls, once thought to be long-dead under the pressures of jobs and midterms.
With folk and roots-inspired music making a popular comeback, often in the form of pop-y Mumford & Sons-esque gimmicks, the genre can feel formulaic at times. Some nostalgic lyrics about getting your heart broken, a slow build that breaks into a mandolin/banjo solo, some stomp-claps, more beards than you can count, a sing-along portion, a couple vests and suddenly you’re a folk star. Buzzwords float around the genre like “authentic” and “genuine,” making it hard to differentiate truth from ploy, but Elephant Revival emulated authenticity and originality. In a style being referred to as “transcendental folk,” they manage to uphold the sound and integrity of the folk genre, while keeping it relevant and fresh.
Their warmth was immediately evident as they opened with one of their most popular songs, “Sing To The Mountain,” belting their dreamy lyrics: “Let the truth be known tonight/Don't go lettin' yourself hide.” The song is an ode to our connection to the Earth and those around us, and their unique staging was a subtle, but effective testament to this sentiment. Instead of being in a typical band formation, they were in a straight line across the stage, transforming the theater into a humble, open space. The whole thing felt less like a concert and more like an intimate gathering, despite the fact that the Majestic was packed. They followed their opening song with a new song and announced it will be coming out on an album sometime next year. The song, called “Sea Monster,” moved in an even more transcendental direction than any of their previous work, reminiscent of that state in-between dreaming and waking where late Sunday mornings exist.
The real bone-chilling climax of the show highlighted vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Bonnie Paine in an incredible rendition of “Raven Song.” I’m certain the entire audience was convinced she was less of a human and more of an ethereal wood goddess. Her haunting voice is certainly no younger than a couple hundred years, and it left no arm free of goose bumps as it floated over the silent theater. Folk-lover and Daily Cardinal sex columnist Anna Welch was attending the show and best summed up Paine’s angelic a capella vocals when she said, “That was better than any orgasm I’ve had in the last month.”
Nostalgically original, Elephant Revival gave us all a heartwarming show of virtuosity on Madison’s first frigid evening of November. Every member was an impressive multi-instrumentalist, demonstrating skill as they passed and traded instruments like hot potatoes. But in their precision, playfulness and warm connection were not lost as they enchanted the pants off of Madison.
