Live review: Local Natives

Southern California’s Local Natives won hearts last night when they returned to The Metro in Sydney as part of a run of Aussie dates. The indie rock five-piece entered the stage to the strains of David Bowie’sYoung Americans, which was a fitting introduction to the energetic show that would follow.

The band commanded attention right out of the gate, with keyboardist Kelcey Ayer showing his impressive range from the very first note ofYou & I. The arresting single Breakers showcased the group’s signature four-part harmonies, which they pull off with ease.

Percussion drives much of their music, as evidenced in Wide Eyes, which provided the first of many singalong moments; while their crowd-pleasing cover of Warning Sign proved much more melodic than the Talking Heads original.

The set was heavy on songs from their latest album, Hummingbird, but it was the tracks from their debut, Gorilla Manor, that had the crowd in raptures. Earnest renditions of their stellar early singles Airplanes andWorld News were highlights.

Their final two songs, Sun Hands and Shape Shifter, displayed what this band does best: They are masters at dynamics. Songs are broken down until they are whisper-quiet, then swell to jubilant, and sometimes raucous, peaks.

This is an act that shines on stage more than it does on record. Their assured live show careers between intimate and wide-screen moments but the train never feels like it’s going to run off the tracks.

They are sonic contemporaries of Grizzly Bear and The National with their earnest, intricate and euphoric indie rock. But to listeners who find these New York acts too distancing, Local Natives provide a much more accessible alternative. They are a band that deserve your attention.