Palm at the Sinclair, 11/29/22
I had been a casual fan of theirs for around a year and a half, so I jumped at the opportunity to see Palm at the Sinclair. Their unique blend of sounds and influences ranging from math rock to footwork initially grabbed me as a listener when I heard their album Rock Island a few years ago, and I have considered them a band worth following ever since. After the release of their recent record Nicks and Grazes, they have been further bolstered in my mind as one of the most cutting-edge groups operating in the indie rock sphere.
Two openers began the night: Massachusetts native Lucy and Brooklyn band Water From Your Eyes. The former’s set was extremely brief; he danced around obtusely and emphatically with microphone in hand, twirling, jumping, and kicking his way from song to song. His time on the stage was brief, yet his performance was full of movement and activity—in the span of about 30 minutes, he made his way through fifteen tracks. His songs were rather simple, but off-kilter vocal melodies and brash dance moves made Lucy’s show unlike any other I had experienced.
About ten minutes after Lucy’s departure from the stage, Water From Your Eyes entered and began to arrange their gear. A three-piece consisting of two guitarists, a vocalist and no drummer, they sang and played over high-speed drum tracks, some of their songs morphing into jam sessions that seemed to last for over ten minutes. Their dynamics created a fascinating sound—the guitarist matched the vocals with a layer of distortion following the exact same melody line, creating a fuzzy, washed-out effect I hadn’t heard played live before.
As Water From Your Eyes exited, the headliners took a few minutes to set up as electronic music rang out from the speakers. Just like the opening acts, they were prompt to begin their set and took the stage just after 10 PM.
In the decade since their formation, Palm has slowly garnered critical acclaim, culminating in wide praise for this year’s full-length, Nicks and Grazes. Released in October, the album pushed their psychedelic-pop-meets-math-rock sound to new limits, incorporating noisy, glitchy electronics, and wonky guitar effects. Since its release, it has quickly become one of my favorite records of the year and has proved itself one of the most innovative albums in recent indie rock memory. At the surface, their music often seems disorganized and chaotic, but the band has found a niche yet enthusiastic audience of indie music lovers and experimentalists.
Before they started playing, Palm situated themselves with precision, moving their instruments and mic stands close together. One of their vocalists, playing lead guitar, stood on the far left, joined on his right by their bassist, who also took on some keyboard duties. To the far right of the stage was the other vocalist, who alternated between guitar, keyboard, singing, and operating a drum machine. Tucked behind them was arguably the star of the show, the drummer, who drove the songs forward with elaborate, intense rhythms. He played relentlessly on a kit with a kick drum that looked like it could break at any moment, and he captured the audience with the ferocity he brought to his drumming.
While it wasn’t a packed Tuesday night at the Sinclair, the moment Palm began to play, the energy in the venue went through the roof. They set the tone immediately with some cuts from their recent album before launching into a personal favorite of mine, “Composite,” from their 2018 full-length Rock Island. With its obtuse rhythm and steel-drum-like effects, the live rendition of the track was incredible.
The hour that followed was nothing short of amazing. Palm tangled their newer material with some older fan favorites, all while maintaining an undeniable consistency. The three band members at the front of the stage moved with a calmness that was heavily contrasted by the frenetic drumming behind them, but their collective soundscape served as indisputable evidence that they belonged together as a unit. Playing another favorite from Rock Island, “Dog Milk,” every piece of the song sounded flawless—the effect-laden guitars were brighter than ever, the drums shifted effortlessly from one time signature to the next.
After a brief exit following extensive applause, the band returned to the stage for a quick encore before the lights went up and the crowd cleared. Palm’s cohesion as a band was truly impressive—hearing their songs on record is one thing, but watching them play it live was transcendent. Palm put on one of the best live shows I have ever seen, and without question, I feel lucky to have witnessed it.