Odds are you’ve seen "Napoleon Dynamite." But if you’ve seen "Gentleman Broncos," you’ll have a much better idea of the vibe inherent to the most recent Portland performance of Neon Indian and Prefuse 73.
In said movie, there is an extreme acceptance for what is “cool” geeky and what is “uncool” geeky. And while Prefuse 73 might fall under the banner of "cool" geeky, there is virtually no planet where they could be slotted on the “uncool” side of the equation. My love for Prefuse 73 dates back to my college radio days. Guillermo Scott Herren, the man behind the alias, has produced, remixed and deconstructed music since primary school, which made seeing those skills live a rich, sonic treat. Supported by two drum sets, an army of synths and a lone Mac, it would have been easy to consider the performance as a mere audio assault by those unfamiliar with the group. And indeed, it was loud. But it was also calculated, meticulous and beautiful. The layers provided by the machines gave the show an inhuman strength; the sounds from live percussion gave it a human heart. I must admit it is a little strange to see so many machines and then a guy with an egg shaker. Don’t they have an app for that? But regardless, Prefuse 73 was much more than I’d hoped for. They were most brilliant at their sweeter, simpler moments. But to be fair, the heavy sonic wall was a delight to take in layer by layer, too.
Neon Indian! It is hard not to get excited about this band from Texas, in part because the music never really stops for the entirety of their set. The tinkling and whooshing of outer space served as a bridge between songs, giving the band and crowd a needed break from jumping around. Leanne wore the smallest and shortest jean shorts ever created, which were grounded by her gigantic belt and black socks with frilly edges. Alan Palmero sported a whole different brand of retro with his skinny pants and that floppy hair that never came to a complete stand-still during the set. Ronnie Gierhart looked like he was tripping balls with his LCD guitar and poncho v. toga outfit.
Of course they played “I Should’ve Done Acid With You.” And “Local Joke.” And “Psychic Chasms.” On the whole, the set wasn’t a surprise, but a well-executed version of the album. The crowd devoured the show and wanted more. The band seemed to have a great time—Leanne cracked a smile halfway through the first song and it never left her face. When Alan busted out the theramin, there was a ripple of excitement in the crowd and he just let loose. I repeatedly thought, I really need to have a slumber party with the band and make them play their set while I play the Rainbow Cup on Mario Kart and overdose on cookies. Because clearly, one thing that the Hess brothers, Neon Indian and I all agree upon is that geek love rules.