The Local Natives are commonly compared to their contemporary indie peers—Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, Yaesayer, etc.—the very convenient list goes on to capture just about every band that has [...]]]>

Local Natives' Taylor Rice & Baba Booey from "Howard Stern"- seperated at birth? Maybe. (Photo: Christian Spencer & Nicole Cummings)

The Local Natives are commonly compared to their contemporary indie peers—Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, Yaesayer, etc.—the very convenient list goes on to capture just about every band that has a song playing on college radio.  It’s a lazy comparison—Local Natives, especially live, have a lot more working for them than much of today’s indie scene. Their melodic tunes have more depth and sense of history —glimpses of the Beach Boys intertwined with hints of earthier groups like The Samples or Rusted Root.  There is a maturity to the Local Native sound that is missing in many of the routine sounds of their contemporaries.

Live, they shine. At the formerly smoke filled 400 person Blind Pig in Ann Arbor they put on a positively exciting performance.  They deliver their sound with such an authoritative intensity that their recorded music sounds bland in comparison.  What’s also intensely engaging is how well the ‘Natives work together as a band, they are convincing in their collaboration and everything fits and feels necessary. Unlike many lopsided acts out there today, the Local Natives work to prove that every member plays an integral role in the music. We’re convinced.

(Photo and review courtesy of Christian Spencer & Nicole Cummings. If you want to check out more photos from this show and others, check out www.flickr.com/photos/christian_nicole).