Beach HouseMonkey House

All right, you guys. This is a combination social announcement/call to arms for all readers of Highgate and their respective circles! Some of you may recall that a couple of weeks ago, I provided you with the coolest picture you saw all day, and proceeded to go on and on about Beach House's brilliant forthcoming effort, Devotion. And if you've paid attention to anything Tanner, Jay, or I have said about their very insular yet transcendent performance at Higher Ground last year, you probably feel at least slightly remorseful about the looming tragedy in your life that is You-Missed-One-Helluva-Trippy-Show,-G. For real. Victoria Legrand's droning organ and divine vocals transformed The Showcase Lounge into a veritable womb for the eight of us who were lucky enough to be there.

I went that night with a strong affinity for their self-titled debut, but I was ultimately skeptical that it would translate well in a live setting. To my surprise, most of the songs I was familiar with took on an added warmth, reaching emotional heights merely hinted at on the album. The intimacy only seemed to add to the overall energy, as if the gaps in the small room allowed that much more of the stage's orange glow to permeate throughout the space. Since the duo was opening for Grizzly Bear that night, the set was less than an hour, but I can say with some degree of certainty that it was the finest hour-long stretch of live music I experienced last year. Well, maybe Animal Collective, but since Beach House are coming to The Monkey House in March (!) for, like, six bucks (!), the edge goes to them. And this time around they're headlining, so we should be treated to healthy doses of both of their stellar albums. As a side note, Victoria not only brandishes a set of amazing pipes, but she's also a total sweetheart. I talked with her for a bit while she broke down equipment, and we discussed everything from the merits of Black Dice's Beaches and Canyons to her unrestrained excitement about the impending release of their second album. It was so refreshing, because she came off sounding much more like a schoolgirl describing her first crush than a jaded hipster who has Ryan Schreiber wrapped around her pinky.

So anyway, make sure you don't miss out on Beach House this time around. It’d be a real shame to have them come back to the area, only to be greeted by another empty room. They'll be playing the Monkey House in Winooski on Sunday, March 30. Papercuts will be opening, as well as a still-undetermined local act. (Please, Greg Davis!) Also, don't forget to pick up their sophomore album, Devotion, which comes out in late February. Give yourself ample time to fall in love with those tracks, and you'll be glad you did when you hear what they can do with them live. See you then!

-JOSH