The Antlers
Independent - May 1, 2010
review by nikkiroddy

Saturday night at The Independent, the crowd buzzed with excitement while waiting for The Antlers to take the stage. The tangible energy was a product of the sold out show. Everyone was a committed fan, wanting the same thing...for The Antlers to come out and play.

Of course, they had to wait a little. The opening band was Phantogram, made up of guitarist Josh Carter and keyboardist Sarah Barthel. Both were fun to watch shaking around on stage and Sarah’s voice echoed beautifully against their catchy psych pop beats. After leaving the show, I remember telling my friend I didn’t think their music was that catchy, but I caught myself humming their songs, "As Far As I Can See" and "Mouthful of Diamonds", for days afterward, so I stand corrected. The more I listen to their album, Eyelid Movies, the more I like it.

When it was finally time for The Antlers to begin, Peter Silberman (guitar and vocals), Darby Cicci (keyboard), and Michael Lerner (drums), walked on stage, each dressed all in black, with a ridiculous, unassuming quietness given the intensity of sound each member of the band was about to unleash on the audience. With only one album, Hospice, they got down to it quickly, tearing through almost every song off the record, which was reissued by Frenchkiss Records this past August.

And although Hospice works as a thought-provoking concept album that flows with a linear storytelling sense, the band mixed the tracks up live, keeping the audience on its toes. Songs "Kettering", "Shiva", "Bear", and "Two" were highlights of the set. "Slyvia" was an equally standout moment. The song is a roaring, powerful track, and when Silberman screamed the lyrics, the entire audience screamed along, creating a deafening echo of passionate howls mixing and bouncing off the walls with the reverberating instruments noise. In that moment, it felt clear The Antlers have touched a collective nerve.

As the show came to a close and The Antlers came back up to play an encore, fans of The XX were treated to a cover of "VCR", which was just. Really. Good. It's clear no one left The Independent disappointed, and if you get the opportunity to catch the band live, you should. That is, if there are tickets left.

posted May 10, 2010
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