It’s been years since M83 has played a show in Richmond. Surely some feared that the band could have possibly gotten rusty after being away for so long. After all, the band has only just released their most recent release, Junk, their seventh studio album, and have been mostly silent since 2013, leaving plenty of time for stagnation.
It’s been years since M83 has played a show in Richmond. Surely some feared that the band could have possibly gotten rusty after being away for so long. After all, the band has only just released their most recent release, Junk, their seventh studio album, and have been mostly silent since 2013, leaving plenty of time for stagnation.
But M83’s massive synth-driven sound has lost none of its sheen, impact or depth, even with Junk’s different approach and freshness to both M83 and their fans. Nor has the band lost any of the exuberance and high energy that makes their live performances such an incredible experience. It was only fitting that the band kicked off their show at The National Sunday night with the established single “Reunion”, celebrating the first time they’ve played in Richmond since 2012.
From the moment M83 came onstage and began playing, the crowd was mesmerized. Clearly the group has a strong, devout following in Richmond. Everywhere you looked, concertgoers sang and swayed along to the music, and The National was absolutely packed, both on the first level and the balcony.
It’s obvious that Junk, in its attempt for a more approachable sound and structured songs, could have been very divisive for fans who have followed M83 since their inception in 2001. However, this wasn’t the case among M83’s Richmond fan base. Any fan in Richmond who had the money and opportunity to go to the show was there, packing themselves in like sardines to try to get as close to the stage as possible. Multiple fans were even brought to literal tears of joy.
“Do It, Try It”, the second song in the set, was released as a single from their new album, but the crowd was already familiar with it, a testament to the rabid following the group has maintained in Virginia’s capital. Featuring thumping bass lines, soaring synthesizers and a goofy MIDI piano, it works well as a more unconventional dance track while still retaining the ethereal sound M83 is often recognized for, with M83’s leader, Anthony Gonzalez, adopting ghostly vocals past the song’s halfway mark.
“Steve McQueen” really made the crowd come to life, amping up the performance with the epic, glorious anthem from 2011’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. In case anybody at the show forgot or didn’t already know, “Steve McQueen” served as a shining example of just how gargantuan a sound M83 has crafted in its seven studio albums. The track is clearly a fan favorite, and inspired fans to surge ever closer to the stage. By the time “Steve McQueen” was played, the place was packed. Leaving your spot to go grab a drink or use the bathroom meant you weren’t getting that spot back.
The excellent performance and music played by the band was more than enough, but having it set to such a great light show really put the performance over the top. Inspiring thoughts of outer space and starry night skies, colored illuminations of all kinds pulsed to the music, beams of light shot out into the crowd and starry dots flashed, all amidst a light layer of fog that added mystique to the colorful starscape.
The whole band was animated, but none more so than the bassist, who spun, danced and skipped around the entire show with a seemingly infinite source of energy, and had a great voice, though he didn’t sing on too many songs. The keyboardist was mostly immobile, obviously, but still exuded a positive energy and was full of smiles and sways – and easy on the eyes, too.
In addition, she brought a beautiful singing voice to the table that really wowed the crowd. The drummer beat the everliving shit out of his set, but still maintained a steady, unwavering source of rhythm that was very noticeable despite the many intricate layers of M83’s songs.
Gonzalez, the multi-instrumentalist and genius catalyst behind M83, went back and forth from running around the stage with his guitar, soloing on his knees, and commanding his synthesizer in the middle. And M83’s saxophone player, who initially hung back by the drummer, came out to the forefront later in the show, driving the crowd insane with sax solos and frantic gyrations that garnered roaring support.
M83, in their sprawling 19-song set, only played six tracks from the new album, Junk, perhaps wishing to treat their loyal fans to more familiar and beloved songs after their long absence. Much of the songs played were from later M83 albums like Saturdays = Youth and Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.
“Midnight City”, the band’s most acclaimed and recognizable song, was played near the end of the set, driving the audience wild. The band left the stage for a mere minute before they were back out for the encore, playing two songs, “Solitude” and “Couleurs”, before ending with the wildly popular “Lower Your Eyelids to Die With the Sun”, an epic track that clocks in at over 10 minutes.
The show was incredible, flawless, and utterly packed on a Sunday night. M83 demonstrated that even after years of absence and their different (but excellent) approach to their most recent album Junk, they’ve still got it going on.
