Listening to Freelance Whales isn’t about sharing a common thread. Their music takes listeners on their own individual journeys.
The band’s richly layered songs can be continually unraveled, but it isn’t until you see the band live that the source of their sound can be truly realized. For this reason, Redamtè’s intimately low-key setting played perfect host to the soft, complex sounds of Freelance Whales Saturday night.
San Fransisco-based trio Geographer opened for the band, setting up a peaceful mood that would color the rest of the evening.
It didn’t matter that I’d never heard their music before, Geographer’s songs are meant to be absorbed and enjoyed for their atmospheric simplicity. Front man Michael Deni’s voice drifted delicately over a unique combination of smooth cello and electronic beats. During the performance, I often found myself bobbing to the beat, and their song “Kites” was immensely strong.
At the end of the set, Deni encouraged the audience to savor the present moment, suggesting that nothing existed outside the walls of Redamtè, sealing the idea of the night’s musical journey.
And it was the truth. I was floating as Freelance Whales lullabied me into a trance. I wanted to sink into the sound, deeper and deeper, and feel their music move through my veins, making me new again.
The band used various instruments and vocal techniques to perfect their cozy sound. In the performance of their most popular single, “Generator ^ First Floor,” whispering breaths echoed under singer Judah Dadone’s sweet voice. The banjo and harmonium provided texture beyond the vocals, and the best part was seeing it all with my own eyes. And in those moments, the hours I spent unraveling the mystery of their music was forgotten. They provided me with a moment to cease thought and just feel the music whirling around me.
At one point during the show, bassist Doris Cellar looked my way. I found myself smiling toward her, peacefully enjoying the music. She met my eye, smiled back like she understood and then kept playing. This is one reason Redamtè is such a great venue for bands like Freelance Whales. I felt connected with the performers but not overwhelmed by them. I saw the band as human too, not idols, not unapproachable. Performers and listeners were together, being swept away by the current of the music, but each in their own direction.
During the band’s encore, they played “Broken Horse,” which tied up all the emotional and instrumental loose ends in a beautifully blended melody.
While mostly playing songs from their first album, Weathervanes, the band also enticed the audience with a few songs from their new album, Diluvia, which will be released Tuesday.
