Between a poignantly awkward stage presence, a willingness to push a few songs to their sonic limits, and the hottest red shoes I’ve ever seen on a bassist, Silversun Pickups rocked Lupos on Wednesday (11/28). In fact, with the unlikely but awesome combo of Triangle Forest and Steel Train as the opening acts, this may go down as one of the best shows in Providence this year.

Taking it from the top, anyone who thinks they’re familiar with the Providence music scene and hasn’t experienced the mind-to-ass blowing beats of Triangle Forest should be pointed out and laughed at. Triangle Forest is a pretty good studio band that proves its pure sonic power time and time again when you see them live. It amazes me every time I see them that two guys and a girl, essentially working just with Casio Keyboards and an electronic drum kit, can produce such an amazing sound. My personal favorites from the night were Rockagon, Robot Sings for the Master, and their closing track, Ice Crystals. Before last night, I had never heard of Steel Train, the second opener. However, that being said, I was pleasantly surprised. In a style that lends itself to comparison with bands like Live, Collective Soul, and even an early U2, Steel Train definitely kept the crowd going after Triangle Forest. And who can argue with a band if Dj Travis feels the need to wear their pink band t-shirt…

Around ten o’clock, I had the opportunity to watch the Silversun Pickups take the stage from backstage. They kicked it off with Well Thought Out Twinkles, their latest single, and the crowd gained an energy they wouldn’t lose for the rest of the show. Between lead singer Brian Aubert’s Strummer-esque stage thrashing and bassist Nikki Monninger’s subtle smiles and waves, the band kept my attention the entire set. Highlights include bringing birthday boy Ben, from the audience, on stage, identifying random members of the crowd and bantering with them, and the 3 or 4 fans who were able to get past Lupos security to jump on stage. Musically, the bands willingness to extend and twist around their tracks, especially on Lazy Eye, made me wish they played longer than 75 minutes. The encore, comprising two little known tracks from the Pikul EP, only served to validate their status as a band I have to see again. Best tracks: Little Lover’s So Polite, Future Foe Scenarios, and Lazy Eye.

Setlist:

1. Well Thought Out Twinkles
2. Dream at Tempo 119
3. Rusted Wheel
4. Waste it on
5. Little Lover’s So Polite
6. Future Foe Scenarios
7. Kissing Families
8. Three Seed
9. Lazy Eye
10. Common Reactor
11. Encore: Two tracks from the Pikul EP

P.S. I know moshing is fun, but Silversun is not Gwar and Lazy Eye is not a metal anthem. To those 4 or 5 guys who were pummeling people at the end of the show, “come on guys, really?”

Pictures:

Triangle Forest:

Steel Train:

Silversun Pickups: