By Erin Bendig
On a rainy Wednesday evening in Athens, Georgia, Car Seat Headrest put on a vibrant performance at the Georgia Theatre, along with exciting opening act Naked Giants. Car Seat Headrest began gaining attention after the release of their 2016 record “Teens of Denial” and in the past two years have grown a pretty large fan base. This show was exciting and enjoyable; the music and performance did not disappoint.
Since I was joined by a dedicated Car Seat Headrest fan, we showed up an hour before doors opened, waiting in the rain to ensure a spot up front. I was familiar with and enjoyed some of their songs so I didn’t mind. Waiting in the rain paid off, despite how wet we got, because we were able to get a spot touching the stage, the perfect place to experience the excitement. The room filled up quickly, everyone trying to get as close as possible before the music started.
Performing first was the indie rock-trio Naked Giants. Energy poured off the stage as they performed, mixing indie and punk elements, as well as incorporating psychedelic riffs. All three musicians commanded attention as LaVallee pounded the drums with passion, and Mullen played the guitar while lying on the ground and kicking his legs in the air. Their set was full of energy, the three in one line with the drummer aggressively pounding the beat, relying heavily on jamming with each other to get a hype reaction out of the crowd. Their songs were loud, exciting, raucous and fun. They were also so catchy, that even though we didn’t know the lyrics, me and everyone else was singing along by the end.
After the enthralling performance by Naked Giants, they joined Car Seat Headrest on stage. Will Toledo, Car Seat Headrest’s front man, stepped behind the microphone and begins the show with a new song, “Can’t Cool Me Down.” It’s clear that Car Seat Headrest is bringing a new complexity to indie rock shows. The music was layered and electric as the six musicians put on a dynamic performance. Toledo charmingly belted each introspective lyric, such as “It should be called anti-depression…it’s not the sadness that hurts you, it’s the brain’s reaction against it.” It was passionate and the room was alive with sound and movement. After the first song, the band quickly moved into a fan favorite, “Bodys,” that made everyone dance and sing, or rather scream, along to the feverish tune.
Currently, Car Seat Headrest is on tour for their album, “Twin Fantasy,” a reworking of an album originally composed by Toledo himself in 2011. However, the band has not lost the authenticity of the original. The rework still keeps that lo-fi sound and much of the same lyrics. Car Seat Headrest lyrics, especially on Twin Fantasy, tend to focus on coming of age themes. They cover relationships, drugs, growing up, and mental illness. Throughout the album, it seems that Toledo is singing about a specific person, possibly alluding to a relationship he was in at the time. It’s easy to understand why his music draws in a crowd composed of young people. They can relate to his contemplative lyrics.
As the set progressed, I was captivated by the music and stage presence of the performers, who played with passion and fervor. Everyone seemed to be mirroring their rousing energy. There wasn’t a still or quiet body in the crowd. When the band played, “Fill in the Blank,” my personal favorite, everyone went wild. As Toledo sang, strobe lights flashed across his face, making the music feel even more powerful. During “Destroyed by Hippie Powers,” LaVallee ditched the drum set to run around the stage playing a cowbell, before grabbing the girl next to me to jump up and play it. During all the exciting chaos on stage, Toledo appeared to be lost in his music. Although his stage presence seemed reserved, he fronted the stage with confidence and purpose. The final song, closing out the show as an encore, was “Beach Life in Death,” a 12-minute fan favorite, featuring the lyrics “It’s been a year since we first met, I don’t know if we’re boyfriends yet. Do you have any crimes that we can use to pass the time? I am running out of drugs to try.” The crowd chanted the words back to the stage, and we were all lost in a wave of sound and light.
Overall, seeing Car Seat Headrest perform added a new intimacy to the music. Every sound, every lyric, every emotion was amplified. It was captivating and exhilarating, and I was blown away by the vigorous energy throughout the show. I walked away with one lingering thought: I can’t wait to see Car Seat Headrest again.
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