Finally got to see the Shout Out Louds last night when they passed through Williamsburg. I am struggling to think of a better live performance that I have seen in the last few years.
Despite being around for 9 years, and releasing 3 stellar albums, the Shout Out Louds seemed to have escaped the genuine mainstream (fleeting appearance on the Nick and Norah soundtrack aside).
If you could handpick members of your fantasy-league indie band, it would come out looking like the SOL. Every member played out of their skin last night, but I was left blown-away by the lead singer, Adam Olenius. Not only is his voice pitch-perfect, delivering with all the engaging intensity of a Scandinavian Robert Smith, but he performs in a way that makes you feel that he is really not even in the same room as the audience.
He is so engrossed in the sentiment of the words he is singing, its like you can read the lyrics directly from his expressions.
The whole show was epic, but I particularly loved the song above (Tonight I have to leave you) which they played about 5 songs into their set, and which established an energy level that was maintained right through to the final chord.
They are back in May - I recommmend getting tickets right now.
