Warpaint's all about the creation of an impressionistic atmosphere, drawing you into an otherworldly state of mind. I'd experienced this feeling at festival four times previously, in 2011 for their The Fool tour and last summer in support of the Warpaint album. This gig shifted venues, and was then postponed for undisclosed family reasons, heightening the anticipation. Yet, even the palm trees of Coachella didn't quite prepare me for the intensity of the front rail of an intimate, immensely beautiful indoor space. The Garden, consisting of identical twins from Orange County, was an astonishing support act. In common with Warpaint, the mood was dark, but their energy was positively primeval, and the sound sparse, valuing rhythm over melody. Yet this garage punk, with drum and vintage bass guitar, was dominated by extraordinary stagecraft, as Wyatt and Fletcher Shears moved on and off the stage with a speed to match the furious tempi of their 'Vada Vada' songs. Equipment issues in the second half of their 45 minute set didn't detract from the visceral impact; it's apt that their latest single is called Surprise!.
Fellow Californians Warpaint also benefit from an compelling drummer in Stella Mozgawa, who adds subtlety to power. Her joyous facial expressions and happy glances exchanged with fellow band members proved inspiring. Warpaint's music has greater depth than The Garden's, with elements of dreamy psychedelia: I got completely lost in the set, as one song floated into the next; re-entry into the real world was jarring. Yet, there is angst in the music: it's not sugar coated escapism, or easy listening, which makes capturing the mesmerised audience an even greater achievement. This feat can be explained by the spirit of the dance, a funky feel created by the two rhythm players with Jenny Lee Lindberg on the joining Stella's drums. They even shifted the rhythm within songs, whilst inspiring the crowd to move the hands and bodies and sing along, quite a feat with such oblique tunes.
Childhood friends Theresa Wayman and Emily Kokal also reached out to the audience, crouching down low on the edge of the stage and swapping vocal and guitar roles. At times, all four members contributed to the vocal harmonies, which are another key element of their distinctive sound. Above all it was a truly collaborative effort. The interplay made it feel like a meeting of the minds of a band who've become completely relaxed in each other's company. The vast cloth backdrop,with moodily lit images of the band's faces, added to the ethereal other-worldliness in this former chapel. The set was such a coherent, all absorbing experience that it wasn't reliant on the impact of individual songs, though an early highlight was Love Is To Die from their 2014 album, when Theresa came to the edge of the stage. Judging by calls of 'I Love You' from the floor, it's fair to say that she inspired considerable affection from the audience.
The sprawling new song like No Way Out ended with the band jamming, as if improvising, in a thrilling conclusion as they listened to each other intently. So, amidst the grandeur there was also intimacy. Warpaint isn't releasing a new album this year, but they played another new single, the more hooky I'll Start Believing. They take risks: being concerned less with immediacy than a deeper, longer term engagement on a spiritual level. This paid off: the audience was completely involved, and despite engaging on a cerebral plane, Warpaint is very much an act which has to be experienced live. Given that the quality of their material seems to be on an upwards trajectory, I'm excited for the future. Yet, right now, in the afterglow of last night, it's hard to imagine another artistic experience so profoundly absorbing and transporting.
Setlist
01. Warpaint
02. Composure
03. Love Is To Die
04. Undertow
05. No Way Out
06. Intro
07. Keep It Healthy
08. Disco//Very
09. Elephants
10. Bees
11. Biggy
12. I’ll Start Believing
13. Burgundy
14. Krimson
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