Twin Shadow may be a household name among indie music fans, but it probably doesn't ring a bell with those who have more mainstream tastes. It's a shame, really, because the Los Angeles-based band has great potential to resonate with pop music audiences due to its catchy sound and unrelenting ability to turn any place with a speaker into a dance floor.
Twin Shadow proved Tuesday night during its concert at Granada Theater that its new album, Eclipse, is worth a listen -- even if you haven't heard of the band.
"Not to put too much pressure on us, but this is our record release party!" said front man George Lewis Jr., who composed Twin Shadow's first two records solo. Dressed in a kilt, he shared Granada's stage with a backing trio on drums, synthesizers and keyboards, and a giant LED cube that flashed on beat.
Eclipse indeed dropped on St. Patrick's Day, which means unless you're a super fan you probably haven't heard it. Here are seven reasons why you should give it a try.
Lewis looks to heavy subjects to inspire his art.
For instance, 2012's Confess tackles Lewis' life after a serious motorcycle crash. This latest album reflects on moments when his father was in a mental hospital, Lewis tells Stereogum.
"... mental illness has been something I've dealt with my whole life, actually, within my family. So I think there is a lot of that on this record." -- George Lewis, Jr.
The new album features a sexy song with D'Angelo Lacy; not to be confused with Michael Eugene Archer, the more popular artist known as D'Angelo.
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Lewis and Lacy also collaborated with electronic producer Zed's Dead on a track. And the video might freak you out (in a bright and colorful way).
Some woman threw her black and red polka dot bra on stage during the first song of Twin Shadow's set at Granada Theater.
So it obviously must be enticing, right? Honesty, the move was a little bit preemptive -- even Lewis said he's more into girls who wait until the fourth song to chuck their undergarments his way.
Dave Letterman approves.
The band's drummer, Andy Bauer, is insanely awesome.
Along with cymbals and a bass drum, he plays a drum-beat pad hybrid called a trapKAT that amplifies the live experience. Like what is that?
Plus, I held my arms up for four minutes capturing this video. (Careful, the sound quality isn't great.)
Also check out: Botany (a.k.a. Spencer Stephenson), a DJ from Denton who opened Tuesday night's show with a commendably diverse set. He flowed seamless through a variety of styles, incorporating mellow beats, hip-hop samples, and near-techno tempos into a cohesive set. He even sometimes sampled his own vocals after moaning into the mic.
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