Michigan native Ben Schneider and band created trippy soundscapes for Friday’s sold-out show at Grand Rapids’ 20 Monroe Live — a concert marred briefly by fisticuffs between some fans who were later separated.
Returning to his home state Friday, Okemos native Ben Schneider and band Lord Huron put on an immersive, dreamlike show for a sold-out 20 Monroe Live crowd on their album-release day.
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Bright neon-colored lasers and hues of purple, pink and green conjured a sci-fi-like setting while the lively six-piece band rambled through a set of folky, rocking, psychedelic soundscapes.
Playing a majority of songs from its new album, “Vide Noir,” Lord Huron unveiled a fresh sound: familiar folk-rock tunes, yet layered with swirls of trippy nuances.
The group also rolled through a number of fan favorites, including huge, resounding renditions of “Ends of the Earth” and “Love Like Ghosts.”
Though everything proceeded smoothly in terms of production, midway through the set, an intense fight broke out near the front of stage left. According to 20 Monroe Live: “There were about five people involved in the skirmish, a few folks were bothering a couple people standing in front of them, arguing over their floor space. When the argument heated up, security jumped in. After speaking with them, everybody calmed down so our security staff did not eject anyone from the venue; instead they separated them, escorting one party to another area of the venue and everybody was happy. We are always proud of how our security staff handles issues that arise on show nights.”
After a soft ending, the band returned for a proper encore, starting with the incredibly popular “The Night We Met.” A giant disco ball descended, the guitars sang sweetly, and couples danced in the shadows and sparkling lights.
The group ended the night with an upbeat finale of “Time to Run,” prompting the sea of fans to twist and groove carelessly till the last chord.
PHOTO GALLERY: Lord Huron, In Tall Buildings at 20 Monroe Live
Photos by Anthony Norkus and Anna Sink