CONCERT RECAP: Generationals @ Tipitina’s Uptown 11/3/12

New Orleans duo Generationals treated their hometown to a tight, energetic set of their irresistible brand of indie pop at Tipitina’s last Saturday as they wound down a national tour that seems to have given them some well deserved attention.  The exuberant (if minimal) crowd danced and howled appropriately with the band as they churned through a mix of songs from 2011’s Actor-Caster, and their debut, Con Law.  Joined by a touring drummer and bassist, the band beefed up the tight arrangements of their studio recordings to deliver a set packed with a multitude of short, yet powerful, dance-rock tunes.

Generationals hail from New Orleans although their music sounds nothing like the brass and funk typically associated with the Crescent City.  Band members Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer share vocal duties, often harmonizing beautifully while playing either guitar or synthesizers to craft a beautiful wave of sound.  Their carefully arranged songs sound like a mix of doo-wop, surf-rock, soul, and new wave filtered through the energy of a great rock band on the verge of making it big.  In some perfect world, it’s summertime and all the cars are blasting Generationals on the way to the beach.

The band did not disappoint last weekend and made sure everyone in attendance was on their feet and dancing for the whole show.  Grant Widmer’s croons on “Yours Forever” floated gently atop the synth and bass bounce underneath as the crowd clapped and chanted along to the joyful refrain, “You’re in my heart.”  These guys really seem born to play together, with their voices, keyboards, and guitars melting together seamlessly to create a cocktail of feel-good musical genres.

After the shortest encore break I’ve ever seen, Ted Joyner proudly showed off the map of New Orleans that was hanging from his keyboard and let us know how good it felt to be back home.  The band quickly launched into their biggest single, the incredibly infectious “When They Fight, They Fight,” and for a few minutes played and sounded like the biggest band in the world.

About the author

Shane Colman

A recent transplant to New Orleans, Shane spends his free time attending as many live events of the musical variety as he possibly can. From brass bands to rock shows, you can usually find him as close to the stage as possible swaying to the beat and sipping an Abita.

 

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