New Politics
Warehouse Live
January 14, 2014
Formed in 2009, New Politics are hardly a new band. And as far as I can tell, they aren’t much of a politically-driven group either. At least, definitely not in any brash way.
Instead, their unconventional, upbeat indie-rock has been developing its popularity in the same way Imagine Dragons forged their way into the mainstream not long ago: with energetic live performances that doesn’t rest on the laurels of a single radio hit, even though that very song is the primary reason for their rise to prominence.
Kicking off their first-ever headlining tour the Green Room at Warehouse Live, New Politics’ music is infectious. With the sound turned way the hell up and with fans’ hands stretched high into the air, the Denmark trio rocked a packed house for nearly 90 minutes. Ear-to-ear grins were plastered on their and their fans’ faces the entire time.
By their fourth song, vocalist David Boyd had jumped into the crowd and was wooing a number of women away from their boyfriends… and boyfriends away from their boyfriends too. At the end of the song, he was standing atop the hands of a few cheering fans while the rest of the venue cheered wildly.
He then proceeded back onstage where he…Pop, lock and dropped it? Bass-heavy rap beats transitioned into synthetic house music, which transitioned into a drum solo as the singer and bassist danced onstage.
Their set list included songs off both their albums, both better- and lesser-known cuts, and a cover of Justin Timberlake’s “My Love.” But do they have staying power? Arguably so, but affection can be fleeting, especially in the music business.
“Tonight you’re perfect,” Boyd crooned to the crowd halfway through Tuesday night’s show. “I want to fall in love with the stars in your eyes. I want to fall in love, but only for the night.”
Personal Bias: “Harlem” got my attention, and the rest of New Politics’ music holds its own too.
Overheard In the Crowd: “I told this chick, ‘Look…I’m not a scratch porn, and you’re not a DJ.'”
Random Notebook Dump: Looking around the crowd, I felt like I was about ten years too old to be in attendance. Near the end of the show, the vocalist mentioned that they’d be coming back to Houston with Fall Out Boy and Paramore…So I guess I was.
SET LIST
Give Me Hope
We Are the Radio
Dignity
Fall Into These Arms
Just Like Me
Tonight You’re Perfect
Love is a Drug
My Love
Overcome
Cover of Justin Timberlake’s “My Love”
Burn
Berlin
Harlem
ENCORE
Stuck on You
Goodbye Copenhagen
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
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This article appears in The Museum Experience Guide January 2014.
