[ATTENDED: March 9, 2022] L’Rain
Up until the day of the show, I had mistakenly thought that the opening act for Animal Collective was L’Orange, a hip hop producer from North Carolina. I listened to his stuff and really liked it.
I recalled that when this tour was announced, there was serious buzz about the opening act. I could see how L’Orange worked with Animal Collective and was curious how he would do his show.
Then I read that it was L’Rain, and it changed everything. L’Rain is the project of Taja Cheek. She creates most of the music herself, playing (at least) guitar and bass and looping her voice. After reading a few reviews, I was really intrigued to hear her.
I don’t know her music at all and I don’t know if she was playing songs from her records or was improvising stuff or both (probably both). There were several proper songs and then several extended jams that were full of everything–wild, weird guitars, drums that went from simple and gentle to thrash-worthy, and a saxophone that didn’t sound anything like a saxophone.
And of course, there was Cheek’s voice. Which she sampled in various ways, pitch shifting it, looping it on top of itself and creating an astonishing array of sounds. Including some really high -[itched and loud shrieks.
I was quite mesmerized. It was especially interesting how the start of several of her songs were essentially R&B, with Cheek singing softly to guitars and some fantastic bass lines. She didn’t introduce the band so I don’t know who anybody was. Oh, the bass lines were so good.
Then the songs would drift. Cheek played rhythm guitar mostly while her lead guitarist plays some fantastic riffs. There was a foundation of keyboards (from the sax player) and drums as well.
And then I’d look over a the guitarist and he would be playing strange chords, or non-chords, making squeaking feedbacking sounds.
One of the songs ended with what can only be described as a thrash metal denouement with thundering guitars and drums. And at least two songs ended with Cheek singing a seemingly improvised melody that peaked with high screams.
Her set ended with her taking off her boots and sitting, rocking on floor as she alternately laughed and screamed. It was very intense.
According to the review at The Key, L’Rain played at least two songs: “Stay, Go (Go, Stay)” and “Alive and a Wake.” Maybe I’ll find the rest of the set list somewhere.
Leave a Reply