As a band, Built to Spill is older than I am, but their music is fresher than ever. On Monday night, the band played a sold-out show at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club to a crowd of die-hard fans.
After the opening act and fellow Northwest indie rockers Braided Waves finished their one-hour set, Built to Spill stormed the stage at 10 p.m. The group is touring in anticipation of their upcoming album, Untethered Moon, which will be the band’s first record in six years. But you wouldn’t guess that the band has been MIA by the crowd’s reaction. Although not everyone sang along, nearly all abandoned SOhO’s beloved bar in favor of the dance floor.
Both the band and the audience were hot off the Coachella train, and that festival mentality manifested itself in the night’s performance: long jams, groovy riffs, powerful vocals, and, from the attendees, lots of stylish hats, which was a little weird, given that this show was indoors at night. Nevertheless, the vibe from both the band and their fans was much more relaxed than anything you would get at a music festival.