Welcome to the Future Donovan’s Pub Hosts Future People

March 1, 2012
Last Friday, February 24, at Donovan’s Pub, the Maryland-based band Future People performed for an enthusiastic crowd. Also performing were Woe of the While and Tobias Wolfe. Overall, the show was a great success because it showcased several talented musicians, all of which had their own distinct sound.
First on stage were Woe of the While. Combining an interesting mix of original material and covers, they possessed a typical indie-folk sound. Their covers of Radiohead and Beirut were especially fun to see live. They performed Radiohead’s “There, There” and Beirut’s “Postcards from Italy” with creative flair and energy, which was impressive for such a young act.
After Woe of the While, it was time for Tobias Wolfe to take the stage. Wolfe’s music was an eclectic mix of reggae, hip-hop, R&B and soul. He used two separate keyboards and a laptop as he performed songs that were impressively cohesive, considering it was one person doing all of the instrumentation.
Finally, at about 10:10 p.m. or so, Future People came on. Dressed in stereotypical punk musician clothing, the performance started with a long, awkward back-and-forth between the lead singer and the crowd. The show was somewhat under-attended, but the band still seemed to engage the crowd and get everyone on their feet and dancing.
I was immediately impressed by how polished their songs sounded. The band sounds a lot like a mix of MGMT, Empire of the Sun, Radiohead and Wire. The music is dark and ambient, striking a balance of infectious dance and musical complexity. The live sound of the band was flawless, especially when they performed their signature song, “Naturally.”
As with every show I’ve ever been to, there are always a few surprises. Future People actually played the “Fire Flame” remix to open up their show, proceeding to, essentially, go crazy and get the audience hyped up. It was ironic for me to see an artistic indie band still give in to such a loud, ridiculous song by Lil’ Wayne and Birdman. But, in a way, it set the tone for the night and, somehow, Future People matched the energy of Young Money & Cash Money Billionaires with the rest of their set.
There was a good amount of improvisation within their set, as well. There were several times when the music was reduced to a simple instrumental and Tobias Wolfe was able to spit his flow. The Donovan’s Pub crowd was enthusiastic about this, especially because it was a break from the band’s other songs, which did not possess as much novelty, but were instead indie-rock masterpieces.
I really liked seeing Future People perform, and I think they are a band on the rise. Be sure to look out for their upcoming shows and festival performances, as it is something you shouldn’t miss.
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