TV on the Radio, May 11 at the Fonda

It seems like TV on the Radio’s new album and subsequent tour came together really quickly, from out of nowhere.  Last I heard they were on hiatus and had a bunch of side-projects (which I didn’t seek out, just to show you that I’m not quite to the point of obsessiveness about them).  Even stranger that Nine Types of Light came out within a week of Coachella and they didn’t play there that year (though twice already was quite a lot).  Anyway, Carla is a fan like me so we had to go.  We got seats in the balcony, though that might have been by choice -- I don’t know how much we would have felt like dancing that night.  As I’ve said on this blog, TVoR shows run hot n’ cold.  I think they do better when they’re not trying so hard.  Playing the Fonda was a bit of a step back from playing the Wiltern like they did last time but the space suited them.  They didn't have to work as hard to fill the space with sound so it could a little more subdued affair in the moments it needed to be, though the moments when they brought it up to rock out really exploded.  Since I haven’t seen an amazing show by them every single time, I sometimes forget that they’re overall often a really amazing live band.  But to be amazing doesn’t always mean that it has to be consistent.  That not every show is great makes the great shows even greater.  And that was one of the better ones, even though they didn't burn the place to the ground.  It was really just them running through music and giving back to the crowd, though in a  much more immediate setting than usual, especially over the times they’re playing in the middle of a field during the height of the afternoon (though not always the worst placement).  Also significant was that this was a show they played shortly after the passing of their bass player.  No one would have blamed them for taking some time off to grieve but maybe they took it out through their sounds and voices and rollicking music. 

Glasser opened and we made a bit of an effort but just didn't get there in time.

TV on the Radio's set-list:

"Halfway Home"
"Caffeinated Consciousness"
"The Wrong Way"
"Blues From Down Here"
"Will Do"
"Province"
"Red Dress"
"Dreams"
"Young Liars"
"Staring at the Sun"
"Repetition"
"Wolf Like Me

"A Method"
"DLZ"
"Satellite"