Live music review: Art Rockers Of Montreal returned to Mohawk on Tuesday
Athens, Georgia indie phenomenon Of Montreal (Styled as “of Montreal.”) has entered their 30th year as prolific and vibrant as ever. Singer, songwriter and visionary Kevin Barnes doesn’t “funk” around when he takes the stage, usually sending out dancers, presenting mesmerizing stage visuals, tossing stage props into the audience, and stage presences that make the audience bask in the long-running oddball indie act. For Of Montreal’s sold-out Austin performance at Red River Cultural District stronghold Mohawk on Tuesday, the summer Texas crowd was ready to sweat it out for yet another triumphant performance showing a masterclass in art and both moody and jovial rock n roll. Of Montreal is classified as a member of the multi-regional Elephant 6 musical collective, which hosts the likes of Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, and Elf Power. With all the bands in this sector sharing a love for the trippiness of the 1960s, Of Montreal packs countless mannerisms of stage show glory.
First up was nearby Lockhart indie staple Tele Novella. Frontwoman Natalie Ribbons has a folky prowess in her songwriting, catering to the vintage vibes the Tuesday evening crowd had in store. The band has a new single out (June 3), “Marry Me” the official video of which is above for you to watch. While a mellow set that didn’t follow the direct path of the headlining act, the local band’s energy showed an excited nature, highlighting gratefulness and elements of art rock that sent a creative message for the headlining spectacle to take place. The fans that flocked to Mohawk for the evening also held an eclectic array of tastes, with fans of psychedelia and other means of indie rock that paved the way to utmost Of Montreal fandom.
Of Montreal took the stage at 9 p.m. on the dot. Due to the sound curfews in the downtown area, the Georgia outfit acted in a punctual manner to deliver an 18-song epic that saw the band slashing through three decades of focused musical output. With 19 albums to choose from, it appeared that the dancing devotees all had different favorites, and from the looks of the crowd reactions and eventual moshing that broke out, the performing artist covered all the bases. The band’s diverse setlist ensured that every fan felt included and catered to, with each number having its own unique element, from dancers to a multi-foot-long rocket balloon that made entertaining trips to the back of the house and even the balcony above the crowd, who were sweating up a storm due to the nighttime humidity of summertime in Central Texas. The smoldering heat and humidity wasn’t going to stop the ‘Treal loyalists, the band had shifted things into full gear and nothing was going to stop the party.
The Of Montreal ensemble cycled through songs emulating the aggressively hungry band status they’ve retained throughout the years, showing songs both old and new. The setlist leaned heavily on 2024 release Lady on the Cusp, which chronicled Barnes’ move to Vermont after spending the better part of his life in Georgia. With each album being a piece of the frontman’s life story, each live show is a testament to their love of theater and various types of stage performance. The 90-minute gig was a spectacle, adding to the immersive experience that felt like it could have held the attention of a venue twice the size. Bass player Ross Brand kept things tasty as well, backing the lead guitars to keep the grooves in check throughout each cut of the electrifying performance.
Of Montreal continues to tour the U.S. this summer before wrapping things up in early July.
All photos by Troy Gonzales
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