Music sensation Gotye packed the Orpheum last night which was no small feat considering the lineup that was in town at all the other major venues (Jane's Addiction, Young The Giant etc.)
Gotye's latest album Making Mirrors has been taking over the charts with hits like State of The Art, Easy Way Out, Save Me, and Somebody That I used to Know.
The lights go up and no time is wasted. Gotye gets right into the music the crowd's been waiting for. Making Mirrors came out last year but already the songs are known by heart and the titles requested. Gotye assures us he'll get to them all. The stage is filled with an array of unusual instruments and the band members jump effortlessly and regularly from one to the other. With every song there is a switch up of some sort giving us a clear understanding of just how talented these guys are.
At one point, perhaps as a nod to fellow Australian band members Midnight Oil, the entire band lines up at the front of the stage to play a song. Regardless, it's a great move that showcases all the band members on an even playing field and adds a warmth to the show that you don't often experience.
The band switches instruments for a new song when a very drunk woman stage left yells out “state of mind.” This brings a smile to Gotye's lips as they start into the voice synthesized State of The Art. Gotye seems invigorated by the call just the same and steps up the showmanship which feeds back into the crowd and gets more people up and dancing. Dig Your Own Hole is a song the crowd really responds to and the sides of the Orpheum begin to bulge with people vying to get closer to the stage.
The band switches instruments for a new song when a very drunk woman stage left yells out “state of mind.” This brings a smile to Gotye's lips as they start into the voice synthesized State of The Art. Gotye seems invigorated by the call just the same and steps up the showmanship which feeds back into the crowd and gets more people up and dancing. Dig Your Own Hole is a song the crowd really responds to and the sides of the Orpheum begin to bulge with people vying to get closer to the stage.
When Gotye says he is going to need some help with the next song, people flood the stage. The men in the audience are given a couple of bars to sing and the women are given the same only an octave higher, then he kicks into one of the most enjoyable songs of the evening, Save Me.
Gotye then turns it down a bit to play Giving Me a Chance and in an amusing case of ironic timing, asks the crowd to acknowledge his amazing crew of techies and roadies only to experience some technical difficulty with the xylophone(?) seconds later. Gotye laughs it off and moves back into the music. The crowd is ready to keep dancing but then there's a hush that falls over the auditorium as every note of the beautiful song is taken in. Gotye ends by fondly expressing his appreciation for how quietly they were listening.
Gotye then turns it down a bit to play Giving Me a Chance and in an amusing case of ironic timing, asks the crowd to acknowledge his amazing crew of techies and roadies only to experience some technical difficulty with the xylophone(?) seconds later. Gotye laughs it off and moves back into the music. The crowd is ready to keep dancing but then there's a hush that falls over the auditorium as every note of the beautiful song is taken in. Gotye ends by fondly expressing his appreciation for how quietly they were listening.
When it comes to playing probably the most popular and well known song from the album, Somebody That I Used to Know, it isn't certain what's going to happen. There is a significant third verse that is sung by New Zealand artist Kimbra on the official recording. Kimbra has been known to drop in to sing the verse when she's around, but right now she's on tour, and putting another female singer in her place for the evening seems weird.
Gotye starts the song and everyone gets to their feet. As the third verse approaches there's a palpable suspense that builds. Gotye doesn't hold his mic out to the audience: he doesn't even look at them. He keeps going like it was the most natural thing in the world as the crowd themselves belts out the first line of the verse. When he keeps moving like he's thinking about what they're saying, it sends a wave of enthusiasm throughout and voices get louder and louder until the verse is completed. Gotye chimes in with his part again and the crowd belts out the remaining background vocals. When the song comes to an end the room explodes with cheers. It's like every person in that room was on stage with Gotye for four minutes, and they were thrilled to be part of the experience.
In hind-sight it was a well planned manoeuvre that paid huge dividends: dividends the audience will enjoy for years to come.
For tour information, check out Gotye.
Gotye starts the song and everyone gets to their feet. As the third verse approaches there's a palpable suspense that builds. Gotye doesn't hold his mic out to the audience: he doesn't even look at them. He keeps going like it was the most natural thing in the world as the crowd themselves belts out the first line of the verse. When he keeps moving like he's thinking about what they're saying, it sends a wave of enthusiasm throughout and voices get louder and louder until the verse is completed. Gotye chimes in with his part again and the crowd belts out the remaining background vocals. When the song comes to an end the room explodes with cheers. It's like every person in that room was on stage with Gotye for four minutes, and they were thrilled to be part of the experience.
In hind-sight it was a well planned manoeuvre that paid huge dividends: dividends the audience will enjoy for years to come.
For tour information, check out Gotye.
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