Dave Elkins of Mae performing at The Independent in San Francisco, CA. January 15, 2019. Photo Credit: Jared Stossel.
Mae
w/ Matthew Thiessen
The Independent
San Francisco, CA
January 15, 2019
Photos and review by Jared Stossel.
Tuesday’s show at The Independent in San Francisco brought something quite different to the table in regards to a live music experience. For the first three minutes of alternative rock act Mae’s 90 minute performance, the band introduced a new aspect to the live show that could very well transform the way in which we consume music. Attendees were given access to a link on their phones in which they would be able to watch a VR (aka virtual reality) simulation happening in sync with the band’s performance. During the first song, an instrumental piece taken from their most recent self-titled album, Multisensory Aesthetic Experience, colors swirled across a simulated backdrop of the universe, their bright luminescence and hues filling the screen as the band played on. This could be viewed with just your smartphone, or with a VR viewfinder that you could purchase at their merch table (which also includes a QR code that will, in the coming weeks, feature the entire album in VR mode). While this was only a three minute addition to the show, it truly seemed to make an impact on everyone in attendance.
Mae are currently on the road supporting their self-titled album, which was released last year via Tooth & Nail Records, and this particular tour seems to be providing just a taste of what people can expect from this band in the coming years. Given that they’ve already had a lengthy career (the band was formed in 2001 and had released three albums prior to the self-titled), they’ve mastered their craft when it comes to playing live. While a number of tracks came from Multisensory Aesthetic Experience, songs from fan-favorite albums The Everglow and Destination: Beautiful made up a good chunk of the set list.
Despite the material from their self-titled finding its roots primarily in synthesized instruments this time around, the band’s live performance finds them with a pretty minimalist set-up (drums, bass, guitar, keyboard), and yet they manage to bring each track they perform to life with the same gusto as the record. It’s impressive, particularly for a band playing in a club on the smaller side. The crowd was packed from the moment they began their set, and long-time fans sang along to every word.
An opening acoustic set was performed by Matthew Thiessen, singer-songwriter and vocalist/co-founder of alternative rock band Relient K. Thiessen’s 30-minute stripped down set was entertaining and a great way to kick off the evening. He introduced nearly every song with a brief “Storytellers” explanation of what the track was about. Mixing humorous anecdotes with serious performance, Thiessen got the show rolling on the right note.
Mae is a band that stands as a testament to what hard work and never giving up can result in. Their VR experience, while only present for such a small portion of their show, really gives you an idea of what they’ve got cooking for the future, and it makes me excited to think about what we are going to see from them down the line.
Mae Set List
Light
Sing
Suspension
All Deliberate Speed
I Just Needed You to Know
Someone Else's Arms
Waiting
Bloom
The Ocean
Anything
Embers and Envelopes
Mistakes We Knew We Were Making
Falling Into You
Giving It Away
A Race for Our Autonomy
Let it Die
5 Light Years
Encore:
The Fisherman Song (We All Need Love)
Mae
www.whatismae.com
www.facebook.com/mae
@maeband
Matthew Thiessen
@matthewthiessen