Longstreth’s newest formation of the Dirty Projectors still puts on a good show

I have to confess, I was terrified the Dirty Projectors would put on a mediocre show filled with good moments. I had heard a couple tracks off their latest album, Lamp Lit Prose (2018), and was thoroughly unimpressed. My expectations were not raised by the opening act, Alex Bleeker, best known as the bassist for Real Estate, who played lazy sunday-ish music about romance, with few bumps in the set. To be clear, the music on Lamp Lit Prose sounded okay, but David Longstreth’s latest prog-pop comeback tried to fire in too many directions at once, and felt forced and lacking in cohesive focus.

Felicia Douglass and Kristin Slipp provide ethereal, harmonic backing vocals while Mike Johnson plays drums.

Fortunately, David Longstreth and co. came to play on Saturday night. It was their third night in a row playing at Starline Social Club and, I was told by people who had been to all the shows, by far their best. The band played quite a few tracks off Bitte Orca (2009) and Swing Lo Magellan (2012), their two best albums, which definitely helped the performance. Although Amber Coffman’s contributions to the band’s sound during those earlier years is missed, her replacements gave a fresh take on the older tracks.

As a live performance, the Dirty Projectors seem to bring a higher energy version of their studio material, with greater rhythm and more male and female vocal balance. David Longstreth sings “We are swimming in a simple rhythm in the same voice” on “Beautiful Mother”, and the lyrics are fitting for his new kumbaya persona. We were encouraged at the beginning to sing with the band if we knew the lyrics. As the show was right before the midterm elections, Longstreth also encouraged us to vote, and bass guitarist Nat Baldwin was rocking a Jovanka Beckles t-shirt.

The  music started with high energy and an almost ska-like beat for the first two songs, and they rode that initial push til the end of the show. Slower paced songs filled with weaving soft harmonies gave the prog-rock jams, and the audience, a break. One of the three encores, “Swing Lo Magellan” was a highlight, and the crowd swayed while singing along to a clear fan favorite.

Alex Bleeker, right, performs before the Dirty Projectors.

The extra energy the band puts into their live performance gives many tracks the added emotional drive they need. While I cannot guarantee in future concerts the Dirty Projectors won’t put more emphasis on their new material, Longstreth’s band can definitely still play, and the old stuff still sounds wonderful.

Written and Photos by Jack Austin