HEALTH played in their hometown with fellow Angelenos Abe Vigoda at the Smell November 11. The Smell has gained attention as many acts who played the venue have gained success such as No Age, Mika Miko, and the Mae Shi. Although HEALTH can be grouped with these other acts, what sets them apart is the calculated skill within their noisy sound.
I have seen HEALTH a few times and am amazed when I see them perform, they always out do themselves. Their show at the Troubadour a few months ago was especially great musically and showcased their coordination. I was absolutely blown away. However, it was hard to ignore that there was not a large audience at the show and they seemed a bit disconnected from the crowd.
HEALTH’s performance at the Smell was quite different. Before their set, they casually did their sound check while attendees were just starting to arrive. They seemed to walk around proud to return to the venue that helped launch their career, selling their merch themselves and watching the other acts. There was no disconnection between a backstage versus the rest of the venue (although the Smell doesn’t even really have a backstage). It was this look of happiness and comfort to be in the presence of some of their friends. A homecoming.
Get Color has been stuck in my CD player (yes, I still listen to CDs) for the last few months. Each time I listen to the album, I notice something new. The mix of genres in HEALTH is unique; the unlikely pairing of vocals reminiscent to Gregorian chant and electronic noise seems like a disaster, but HEALTH makes it a perfect match. The live performance of the songs from this album adds another dynamic to the overall experience of the songs. There is a visual aspect of the performance that flows with the music, whether it’s their sporadic movements on stage or when they space out during songs. These images are permanently engrained in my head and are revived when I listen to their songs.
Usually, the lead singer is the stand-out band member in a live performance. In HEALTH’s case, bass player John Famiglietti’s performance is a highlight. The way he dances on-stage is completely his own. He moves and sways with the music, maintaining his confident demeanor. He stands in the middle of the stage, taking up most of the room when he dances, moving wherever the music takes him. Every time I see them, I want to move like him. During “Death+,” the way he plays his drum somehow reminds me of indie rock’s answer to the little drummer boy. He plays his tom with so much energy and excitement; I can’t help but smile and feel like I should follow. During “Zoothorns” he screeches at such a high pitch, most people would laugh hearing the sound, but the crowd doesn’t. He stands on-stage being cooler than cool and leaving you to just focus on the music.
Playing at the Smell does come with its problems. The crowd for the most part was apathetic. Towards the front, you had a few die hard fans and moshers, but most of the audience stood still and stared. Maybe a head bob, nothing more. And yes, I did feel pretty ridiculous dancing throughout the show, but their music compelled me to move. Also, unfortunately, the Smell’s sound system is not up to par. Most of the acts that come through have a garagey noise sound, and the Smell’s sound system works well for that, but HEALTH has a lot of different intricate tones in their music. However, most of HEALTH’s sound still made its way through and the set was still enjoyable. The energy in their performance was amazing and I really feel like they put on their best set.
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