Givers are, without doubt, not your quintessential pop band. The Louisiana five-piece’s tendency to eschew traditional pop song structure on their debut album “In Light” had reviewers thrilled and perplexed in approximately equal measures, thanks to the boldness of its songwriting approach. Here was a band willing to take numerous detours within a four minute song, whirling off down tangental musical routes, conjuring up implausible tempo shifts while occasionally throwing in the sort of exuberant chorus that had the post-Vampire Weekend indie kids eating out the palm of their hands.
As exciting, and at times confusing as “In Light” can be, in truth Givers are a band to see in the flesh, where their musical dexterity really shines. They caused a commotion at South by Southwest this year with their live virtuosity, so this Brighton show at Concorde2 is one for lovers of pop music skewed, afrobeat indie refracted through a prism. It’s not all experimental freestyling though. Debut single “Up Up Up” was, and is, a frothy, zesty and highly contagious brew, with the sort of chorus that nestles into your cortex and refuses to budge. Trust us, we tried pliers. It’s still there.
Of course it’s difficult not to mention Vampire Weekend as a touchstone, purely because they brought this broad genre of music to a wider audience, but that’s where the similarities end. “Meantime” for example, is a very typical example of what Givers do. Starting out with what sounds like a traditional pop song structure, it breaks down after 30 seconds into something completely different, Taylor Guarisco’s voice doing something of a Fyfe Dangerfield. No sooner have you rediscovered your bearings than the pesky blighter swings into something altogether different again around the minute mark. And a few more times before it reaches its conclusion. It’s dangerous stuff, but it’s impressive and refreshing too. Lob in percussionist and co-vocalist Tiffany Lamson’s smoky vocals and you’re onto a winner. But don’t take our word for it – present yourself at Concorde2 and prepare to be uplifted.
Check out the band here.
