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Panda Bear played new material at Warsaw w/ Dam-Funk and Torn Hawk (pics & videos)

photos by P Squared Photography

“Panda Bear is blowing my mind right now. All new songs so far. All incredible” – Will Oliver

“Panda Bear played basically all new material! SO excited about how chillgroovywonderful the new album will be! (90s tumblr aesthetic w/e)” – @P0ssiblymaybe_

“New panda bear sounds fucking stellar” – Carly

“Panda bear played a whole set of new material in bk tonight! Fucking killer!” – Jordan Morriseey

“Panda Bear’s new jams are groovy” – Steve R. Seigh Jr.

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Dam Funk
Panda Bear

Animal Collective member Panda Bear has a new solo album in the works — tentatively titled Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper — and as he and AnCo tend to do, he’s been playing a lot of the new stuff on tour ahead of its release. His tour hit NYC last night for a Red Bull Music Academy show at Warsaw (5/18) with visuals by frequent AnCo collaborator Danny Perez. Stereogum caught the show and wrote this of the setlist:

1. An organ track gives way to the kind of church-like music associated with Young Prayer and Person Pitch.

2. This one is a stone groove, with some real get-up-and-go that spins out and isn’t likely to become very friendly with the dance-averse.

3. A xylophone-ish intro breaks into a rhythm that kicks in strongly.

4. This track is heavy on deep electronic notes and features stilted lyrics that make you feel like you’re riding a carousel while smoking a joint. A highlight.

5. The punctuated keys here are layered atop undertones that sound straight out of the ’80s, like an alternate soundtrack to The Running Man. Slow out the gate, the rhythms get boosted as it unfurls.

6. A floral intro gives way to a baroque, harp-laden crux. Lennox sings the lyrics “all in the family” as part of the chorus; this song is so strong it could win over Archie Bunker.

7. This might be a two-parter along the lines of “Good Girls/Carrots.” A relatively short symphonic part leaks into a punchy backbone.

8. There’s a “Bros”-like sample that drives into a theme which marches. Another winner.

9. This closer might be the most rock ‘n’ roll track, chugging along as Lennox sings his heart out.

Encore: a vibrant “Last Night At The Jetty,” before “Scheherazade,” and “Surfer’s Hymn.”

Only a short video clip has surfaced from the show as of this post, but the SG review mentioned a Collected Animals commenter said a full stream from the show will come out later in the week. Meanwhile, you can watch some videos of Panda playing new songs at Austin Psych Fest and at his recent DC show.

Opening the show was AnCo’s pal Dam-Funk, who jumped into the crowd for part of his set, and L.I.E.S. producer Torn Hawk, who Pitchfork recently recommended. Pictures of all three artists are in this post.

More, with those videos, below…

Panda Bear new song at Warsaw – 5/18/14

Panda Bear new song in DC – 5/16/14

Panda Bear – two new songs at Austin Psych Fest 2014

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