Purity Ring fanatics lined up in front the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville on January 28th, 2012. Patiently waiting out front around 645 PM, the line extended for a block–everyone was pumped to see the band play their excellent debut, Shrines, live.
Purity Ring fanatics lined up in front the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville on January 28th, 2012. Patiently waiting out front around 645 PM, the line extended for a block–everyone was pumped to see the band play their excellent debut, Shrines, live. The doors opened at 7 PM, by which point the concert had already sold out. This was easily observed as fans slowly filled the floor and formed a chaotic line at the bar, ready for anything that the band might have in store for them. The forecast said “dance.”
The Canadian electronic duo originated from the band Born Gold (previously called Gobble Gobble). While on tour with Gobble Gobble, Corin Roddick began experimenting with electronic reduction and beat-making. When Megan James was asked to sing on a track “Ungirthed,” Purity Ring was born. This was January of 2011.
Sporting custom made clothes by James, the duo walked on stage and something weird happened–fans in the back chugged their drinks and brought themselves closer together, in a huddle. This was strange to see since people are normally uncomfortable being so close to one another, but everyone was ready to dance to the slow dream pop, post-dubstep style of music Purity Ring plays. And without a word to Charlottesville, they started their set.
The concert perfectly emulated the sound of the recorded album. Lack of variation between the two is always a safe way to go–the fans can’t be disappointed. To be completely honest, this is where the show fell short for me. I am not a fan of bands that don’t walk outside of the sound they have made for their recorded albums. I see concerts as a way to see bands with a new, richer, more stream-of-consciousness version of themselves. If I could have just stayed at home and had a similar experience with the album playing on my stereo, then what’s the point? All that being said, I really like the album, so it was still enjoyable.
Aside from the dangerously addictive dance-inducing music they emanated live, the light show quickly stole the heart of the show for me–this may have had something to do with my alcohol-influenced state of mind though. The stage was set up with a series of hanging lights that resembled squid eggs. Each one, as the concert pushed on, changed colors with the songs. With what looked like a custom-buil,t tree-esque percussion instrument, Roddick generated both a unique sound and lighting from bulbs branching out from his drum set.
Since Shrines is their debut release, the concert was limited to the amount of songs currently written by the band. The set was just shy of thirty minutes and the duo did not play an encore. Since Purity Ring is in the early stages of their development, I was left wanting more. Whether or not that is a good or bad thing is something I will leave up to the imagination. For now, I have high hopes for their future albums, and look forward to seeing them more matured and ready to share more songs.
Words by Brian Charlton
Top Image by Amanda Hatfield
Other Images by Dominick Mastrangelo
