In Santa Fe, NM, a town where boot-scootin' americana and seated audiences of retirees are king, Brooklyn's AKRON/FAMILY recently provided a refreshing breathe of indie air. When I arrived at Corazon, a Santa Fe bar which has been working hard to bring diverse up-and-coming acts, I was happy to see that AKRON/FAMILY had drawn a sizable, youthful, energized crowd.
AKRON/FAMILY do experimental folk-rock well. All three band members take turns singing and they use a vast array of instruments and noise making techniques in their music, including pre-recorded cricket chirps and blowing into the microphone to recreate wind sound. Songs alternate between fast and slow tempos, vocals dominate some, while reverb and noise take the lead on others.
The set at Corazon included songs from their latest EP S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT, released in February. With the first lyrics of the first song "River", a large dude behind me started shouting along with the band and a lady in front of me giggled consistently and attempted to talk to the band between most songs. These were not your average fans. While not my crowd conduct of choice, I was impressed by the wide-spread enthusiasm for the music.
A few songs into the show, the band members jumped into the audience with percussion instruments, feeding the frenzy. Later in the set, singer Seth Olinsky led the crowd in a visualization of being at the beach which ultimately led us to a dance move where we swayed back and forth with right hand held high, index finger pointed towards the sky. As the show continued, I began to understand the unique relationship that AKRON/FAMILY actively fosters with their fans. Even though I am no die-hard fan, I definitely found the set enjoyable, interesting and original.
As a friend and I exited the venue, we attempted to identify exactly what made the show seem more like an experience rather than a collection of songs. She said, "It's almost like everyone in that room was the weird kid in their school," and it clicked. In AKRON/FAMILY, the fans had finally found their very own in-crowd to rally around and love - the band included.
