To form a coherent thought about Washed Out would make even the most cautious writer sound a bit like Hipster Runoff, but still people will try to eloquently tackle this rising artist and his quite good debut full-length, Within And Without, which will see a proper release this week on Sub Pop. Paired on a warm summer night with fellow up-and-comer Class Actress, the two called into question what we think as hot weather music while toying with the often limiting genre-traps of electronic music. But, to risk hyperbole, the night displayed a lack of limitations for both artists, proving them to have a greater mass appeal than previously imagined, to be greater performers than expected, and to have the ability to make an audience let loose rather than, uh, chill.
After a remarkably catchy set from The Chain Gang Of 1974, Class Actress (Elizabeth Harper) appeared with an assisting multi-instrumentalist to deliver songs from both her EP, Journal Of Ardency, and her upcoming full-length, Rapprocher. Musically, the set was satisfyingly upbeat, showing off Harper’s seemingly natural ability to find an infectious melody, from her title-cut on her EP to the recently released single, “Keep You,” which is probably the finest thing she has written yet.
But, overshadowing the music was the on-stage persona of Class Actress. There is no down-playing the way that Harper leans on her sexuality to sell her act, and though it is not totally necessary (as her songs are pretty damn good), it takes what could be a typical female-electro-pop act and makes it something quite different. Notably, within indie circles, sexing-it-up is far less common than downplaying looks and sexual desires, which, when you think about it, is pretty against what live performance should be about. The audience wants to be seduced, wants to see someone uninhibited on a stage – displaying themselves in complete comfort and confidence. Class Actress does this, without seeming trashy or fake. Time will tell if her new album will deliver on the promise of “Keep You” and set closer “Let Me Take You Out,” but she seems to have the audience pretty sold on her attitude alone.
Washed Out was a different kind of sexy. You know, because, like, he’s a dude. Ernest Green clearly had every lady in the audience going with his chiseled face, curly locks, and revealing tank top. But musically, there was something overtly sensual happening on stage, which shouldn’t be compromising to any writer’s manhood to admit. Taking what was once a bedroom project and transforming it into a full band is something that a lot of the chillwave contingent seem to be moving towards, and it has taken an act like Toro Y Moi to the next level of commercial appeal, as he is now a viable festival act. Washed Out could easily follow this lead, and even one-up it, as the live show doesn’t fall into any expansive pigeon-holes like “funked-out” or “rocked-out.” The Washed Out live show feels like Washed Out, only bigger, like the realization of the album’s possibilities.
Songs like “Feel It All Around” and “New Theory,” from the Life Of Leisure EP, hinted at the swelling implications of Washed Out’s music, and live, they get the proper treatment. But, songs from Within And Without are even more comfortable in this context. “Eyes Be Closed” catches every nuance that is hit on the album, while filling into every crevice of the Echoplex that was left to occupy, creating a party atmosphere that felt like an audio ambush, with the music literally feeling as if it surrounded the audience and pushed on the human spirit towards, well, bliss.
Behind Green, a capable team of percussionists, keyboardists, and an eventual – and awesome – saxophone completed the music vision that didn’t live up to the band name. Yeah, Washed Out is vibrant stuff, offering the kind of saturation that makes already sweaty people want to sweat more, and made them beg for more at each song’s conclusion. Eventually, after about an hour of consistent tunes, the show had to end, but not before a sincere wave of gratitude from Green, who, like many of us, is just beginning to realize where this might all be going.
