Let me preface – I find the work of Adam Young to be brilliant.  There is a unique talent in producing an album’s worth of catchy, fun music.  Critics of his music blast Young’s songs for lack of lyrical depth.  Those critics don’t “get it.”  There’s something to be said for a musician who  consistently produces entertaining, likeable songs.  Those critics need to take a step back and look at the big picture.  The music of Owl City is about a lot more than lyrical content and catchy hooks.  It’s about an energy.  An attitude.  Owl City’s performance at House of Blues – Houston embodied that energy and attitude.

At 8:30PM, the house lights went down and the pulsating, airy electronics of “Dreams and Disasters” permeated the venue.  As the minutes passed and the anticipation continued to build, Young and company strolled onto the stage to assume their instruments.  Joined by a drummer, an additional guitarist, a multi-instrumentalist (primarily keyboards and various guitars), and a pianist / backing vocalist, it was clear that Young had assembled the talent to produce a unique live set.  This was not going to be karaoke.  In fact, quite the opposite.  Textured guitars and heavy drumming took “Dreams and Disasters” through a live metamorphosis.  This wasn’t karaoke.  It wasn’t even a basic live version of the studio track.  Right out of the gate, Owl City was changing the dynamic and making it work.

On the third song, “Cave In,” the differences between the studio and live sound were really apparent.  Relying on clever drum licks and a melodic blend of guitars, the song took on a completely new life.  Midway through the song, the band broke out in a jam session.  By the time they returned to the verse, the crowd was going nuts.

On “Meteor Shower,” things really got interesting.  “Meteor Shower” is a short, down-tempo, piano and string-laden masterpiece from the album Ocean Eyes.  But how would it translate to the live environment?  Beautifully. Jasper Nephew performed his guitar parts with the assistance of a violin bow and various effects, Breanne Duren flowed wonderfully through the electronic landscape, and drummer Steve Goold picked his spots carefully, delicately underscoring the various moods throughout the duration of the song.   Live nuances like these could be found throughout the entire set, adding a layer that is both visually stimulating and sonically appealing.

“I’m Coming After You” is the kind of song that critics jump all over.  Lyrically, it is simply silly.  At the same time, if you listen to it once, it will be in your head for a lifetime.  It is the one of those songs that you can hate and love at the same time.  It seems that Young recognizes this, as he incorporated police sirens and flashing lights into the live performance, adding a skillful bit of drama and humor to the song.

“Fireflies” got the reception most would likely expect.  By far the bands biggest hit, the crowd went absolutely nuts for the song.  By this point, we were back by the sound booth, enjoying the live act without constant bumping or movement.  Thanks to this positioning, I saw a 50-something couple (not there with kids of their own) bounce around and sing along with every word of the song.  For better or worse, Owl City is perceived as a “teen” band.  This simply isn’t the case.  Although there were plenty of teenagers in attendance, there was no single representative age of the entire crowd.  It is rare to find a band that can appeal to multiple generations so seamlessly.  Coldplay has it mastered.  Although Owl City isn’t quite to that level, “Fireflies” is the perfect example of a song that can appeal to the broad audience.

For the encore, Owl City opened with the latest hit, “Good Time.”  On the album, Adam Young splits vocal duties with Carly Rae Jepsen.  Since Jepsen is a mega-star in her own right, she was not in attendance to join Young on stage.  Instead, we were treated to a duet with Breanne Duren.  Duren is no stranger to duets with Young, singing with him on studio tracks for “The Saltwater Room,” “Honey and the Bee,” “On the Wing,” and “Air Traffic.”  Duren has a soft, but strong voice.  Personally, I found her performance with Young to be even better than the one with Jepsen.  Although Jepsen is the more talented vocalist, I believe that Duren’s voice is better suited for the song.

The band closed the set with “Gold.”  As a composition, it stands out as one of the band’s best tracks.  The song’s bridge and hook are solid, but it is the positive, uplifting nature of the song that suits it so perfectly for the end of a set.

I entered the House of Blues uncertain of what to expect.  Listening to the Owl City albums, I simply couldn’t imagine a live performance.  What I experienced was so much more than anything I could have anticipated anyway.  Adam Young has already built himself into a star.  As he continues to develop his craft and broaden the appeal for his music, the sky is the limit.

Setlist:

Dreams and Disasters
The Yacht Club
Cave In
Tip of the Iceberg
Dementia
Meteor Shower
I’m Coming After You
Umbrella Beach
Speed of Love
Seahorses
Angels
Designer Skyline
The Real World
Fireflies
Silhouette
Hello Seattle
Metropolis
Embers
Shooting Star
Deer in the Headlights
Take it All Away

Encore:
Good Time
Gold
Contact Robert at robert@starsandsatellites.com