Milky Chance saw huge success with their 2013 debut album, Sadneccasary. Fours years later the German alternative folk-tronica group is gearing for the release of the anticipated follow up, Blossom on March 17th!
The last time they were in SF, Milky Chance played The Regency Ballroom in April 2015 and a few months later they played the Sutro Stage at Outside Lands. The now three-piece band sold-out their much more intimate show at The Independent in SF last Friday, March 10th, one week before the release of their sophomore album!
A young Noah Kahan hit the fully back-lined stage about half an hour later than scheduled but never the less, to a roaring response. With only a guitar and a microphone, he powerfully serenaded the crowd over their loud convos which didn't yield at all once the music started.
I was led to believe that up and coming artist must have had friends in the audience the way people kept shouting his name and shrieking when he started songs. Disruptively excited to see their friend performing at a well known music venue in the city and opening for Milky Chance no less, they definitely took something away from Noah's big night with their immature antics.
The rest of the show was pretty much on track with Noah Kahan wrapping up on time and Milky Chance hitting the stage only a few minutes "late" right before 9:30. I was impressed that the headliner wasn't pushed back since the 8:00pm show didn't get under way until 8:30pm!
Lead singer Clemens Rehbein, DJ/percussionist Phillip Dausch and guitarist/bassist/harmonicanist Antonio Greger were joined by a fourth tour member who fit right in on drums. A perfect addition to their live show, driving home the band's chill yet complex sound.
The stage arrangement was really aesthetically pleasing: instead of the typical stage right and stage left placement of guitarists/bassists and/or synth player with the drummer tucked in the back, Milky Chance members were staggered across the stage with Rehbein front and center. This fairly uncommon set-up allowed you to easily see the whole band through out the night!
They were off to a modest and comparably quiet start as fans' boisterous cheers rose then faded into synchronized singing along. Playing title track "Blossom" between both of the new singles "Ego" and "Doing Good" one after another at the top of the set seemed like a daring move . When Rehbein announced they'd be playing a bunch of new stuff, then it made more sense: easing fans into the introduction of brand new songs with ones that had a little familiarity.
Color changing, cascading lights and the occasional bright white light/backlighting served as an enhancement to the mystique of their music. While the unique lighting accentuated their stoney vibe, drawing a trance-fixed attention throughout the crowd, the otherwise reserved frontman's personable crowd engagement really highlighted how down to earth the band really is. Through a humble, gracious smile, he softly thanked everyone for making it out in the city he and his bandmates love so much.
Their biggest hit to date, "Stolen Dance" got an energetic outpouring reaction when cued mid-set, rendering a low-key, groovy dance party that lasted for the reminder of the show!
On the surface, their hazy rock sound is very alt-indie with an underlying guitar emphasis teetering between acoustic-ish and electric. Welding hints of Reggae and even Folk by interlacing bongos and harmonica along side Dausch's turn-table mixing, Milky Chance has an instrumentation that's unassumingly experimental. The way that they compose and play all of these different layered genres, flows naturally and their concert representation as a whole is sensorially artistic!
Milky Chance's live show will bring you to an almost hypnotic state while making you want to dance at the same time.
The tour in support of their new album will have them back in The States in May and Blossom is available today!
 |
| Milky Chance @ The Independent 3/10/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
The last time they were in SF, Milky Chance played The Regency Ballroom in April 2015 and a few months later they played the Sutro Stage at Outside Lands. The now three-piece band sold-out their much more intimate show at The Independent in SF last Friday, March 10th, one week before the release of their sophomore album!
People were still finding their way inside well past 7:30pm, when doors opened and fans who made their way to the front of the stage were inconsiderate considering the close quarters of their surroundings. Unnessicarily loud and overtly pushy, they made it pretty clear that they don't go to too many shows the way they carried on. And if they do, then thankfully, I don't frequent the kinds of shows they go to.
 |
| Milky Chance @ The Independent 3/10/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
A young Noah Kahan hit the fully back-lined stage about half an hour later than scheduled but never the less, to a roaring response. With only a guitar and a microphone, he powerfully serenaded the crowd over their loud convos which didn't yield at all once the music started.
I was led to believe that up and coming artist must have had friends in the audience the way people kept shouting his name and shrieking when he started songs. Disruptively excited to see their friend performing at a well known music venue in the city and opening for Milky Chance no less, they definitely took something away from Noah's big night with their immature antics.
The rest of the show was pretty much on track with Noah Kahan wrapping up on time and Milky Chance hitting the stage only a few minutes "late" right before 9:30. I was impressed that the headliner wasn't pushed back since the 8:00pm show didn't get under way until 8:30pm!
Lead singer Clemens Rehbein, DJ/percussionist Phillip Dausch and guitarist/bassist/harmonicanist Antonio Greger were joined by a fourth tour member who fit right in on drums. A perfect addition to their live show, driving home the band's chill yet complex sound.
 |
| Milky Chance @ The Independent 3/10/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
The stage arrangement was really aesthetically pleasing: instead of the typical stage right and stage left placement of guitarists/bassists and/or synth player with the drummer tucked in the back, Milky Chance members were staggered across the stage with Rehbein front and center. This fairly uncommon set-up allowed you to easily see the whole band through out the night!
They were off to a modest and comparably quiet start as fans' boisterous cheers rose then faded into synchronized singing along. Playing title track "Blossom" between both of the new singles "Ego" and "Doing Good" one after another at the top of the set seemed like a daring move . When Rehbein announced they'd be playing a bunch of new stuff, then it made more sense: easing fans into the introduction of brand new songs with ones that had a little familiarity.
 |
| Milky Chance @ The Independent 3/10/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
Color changing, cascading lights and the occasional bright white light/backlighting served as an enhancement to the mystique of their music. While the unique lighting accentuated their stoney vibe, drawing a trance-fixed attention throughout the crowd, the otherwise reserved frontman's personable crowd engagement really highlighted how down to earth the band really is. Through a humble, gracious smile, he softly thanked everyone for making it out in the city he and his bandmates love so much.
 |
| Milky Chance @ The Independent 3/10/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
Their biggest hit to date, "Stolen Dance" got an energetic outpouring reaction when cued mid-set, rendering a low-key, groovy dance party that lasted for the reminder of the show!
On the surface, their hazy rock sound is very alt-indie with an underlying guitar emphasis teetering between acoustic-ish and electric. Welding hints of Reggae and even Folk by interlacing bongos and harmonica along side Dausch's turn-table mixing, Milky Chance has an instrumentation that's unassumingly experimental. The way that they compose and play all of these different layered genres, flows naturally and their concert representation as a whole is sensorially artistic!
Milky Chance's live show will bring you to an almost hypnotic state while making you want to dance at the same time.
 |
| Milky Chance @ The Independent 3/10/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
 |
| Milky Chance @ The Independent 3/10/2017 photo by Marc Fong |
The tour in support of their new album will have them back in The States in May and Blossom is available today!
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