Gifts from Enola is the kind of band you go see and then whisper to you friend next to you, "Whoa, these guys really put on a great performance." The post-rock band from Virginia came to Portland and really showed the audience a true post-rock show. Three guitarists played in an animated and chaotic harmony. The sounds they produce are like stories and roller coaster rides, filled with the creeping quiet interrupted by the inevitable explosive arrangement of noise.
This gets said plenty, but one thing that really gets me when I watch bands is their lighting. Some bands have a unique light show to accompany their music, which makes the performance so much more entertaining. Bands like Autolux, Yeasayer, and Gifts from Enola are perfect examples of how bands can capture an additional one of your senses as you admire their sounds.
Their latest full length From Fathoms sounds great on record—however, hearing them live blew me away. For playing as loud as any great post-rock artist, they have a very clean live sound and an amazing stage presence.
Look out for these guys whenever they come to your neck of the woods. They are genuinely beautiful people with a great chemistry for making music.
