How do you match up a live show to a contender for album of the year? Be M83. The following are ways to be M83 live.
1. "Intro." Open with it. Definitely do not forget to bring the character on the cover of "Midnight City" to scare the pants off the audience first.
2. During "Intro," don't stop building, and when you think you can't build anymore, stand on a monitor and assert your rock-star status before launching into the ending, at which point, you may allow the audience to take over.
3. Remember, people LOVE the new album. But, people also love the old stuff. This includes:
a. "Kim and Jessie." Before fading off into the more woozy and dreamy vocals of the song, the audience is at LEAST guaranteed to sing the first three words.
b. "Teen Angst"/"Guitar and a Heart" give the audience a chance to dance.
c. "We Own the Sky" and "Skin of the Night" with amazing vocals from Morgan Kibby. "We Own the Sky" had a particularly interesting and different opening before launching into the bassy keyboard hook, and the "It's coming up" bridge reached a perfect crescendo.
d. (And most importantly) "Colours." The last song of the encore was perhaps the highlight of the night. Little bits of electronic arpeggios built upon each other, supported by cowbell and rainbow lights. Anthony Gonzalez thanked the crowd and yelled, "Boston!" repeatedly before the final beat-drop of the night, sending the audience into a frenzy.
4. Remember, people LOVE the new album. The slap-bass in "Claudia Lewis" and the chanting of "Steve McQueen" translated perfectly, while the starry "Wait" was a good break in dancing for a cathartic yelling session.
5. Real instruments! None of that sampled crap.
6. Stage presence swagger. Those guys can dance.
7. Mutual appreciation of the audience. Nothing warms the audience's heart like making heart symbols with your hands to present to them in thanks.
8. Be M83.
Active Child opened the show. The unique mix of operatic vocals, post-dubstep beats, and harp (yup, harp) was mesmerizing. Perhaps the audience wasn't dancing, but they were interested, and attentive. You Are All I See is a definite sleeper album this year, a weird mix of Washed Out, Zola Jesus, and James Blake. Hopefully Active Child will soon play a tour in smaller intimate venues, where you can see fingers strumming the harp even from the back of the place. It'll work.
