Why?, the “folk-pop, indie-hop, sometimes-mustachioed, psych-rock quartet that operates out of the Oakland Bay Area" as described by the Anticon website, includes lead man and former solo project Yoni Wolf on vocals and drums, Josiah Wolf on percussion, drums and xylophone, Doug McDiarmid on keyboard, and Matt Meldon on guitar. On the night Why? visited Austin, the Mohawk was utterly packed. Both balconies were crammed with people, and bouncers were shooing stragglers from gathering on the stairs. The group set up on the outside stage surrounded on nearly all sides by admirers. As a part of the infamous Anticon, a label that hosts an array of eclectic musicans/rap artists/poets, the group’s fan base are of a certain die-hard, latest-EP-collecting caliber. Having only heard their latest album Alopecia, released March of this year, I felt a little out of place. I stood at the right side of the stage, at drummer Josiah Wolf's back, watching his arms slam on his drums in time as his brother, Yoni, tapped sprinkling simple, pretty background melodies on the xylophone. Yoni sang musical poetry wrought with irony, suicide-notes, and sweet/sour themes, staying true to the tunes of the album tracks so that the fans in the front row could sing along. Their show was a true collaboration of all musicians. The songs are layered with instruments and voices. The band has a penchant for ooh's and ah's and for the perfect mesh of synchronicity and complementary sounds that invented the rhythms prevalent on their latest album. Their performance of "The Sad Song of the Assassin" began slowly, punctuated by pounding drum breaks and sing-song choruses led by keyboard and guitar. It closed with a round of chanting and simultaneous sounds from all band members. In between songs, Yoni would charm the audience effortlessly while taking shots of Jaeger, living up to the oddly humble rockstar vision fans have come to expect from Why? Just four shaggy haired, unassuming guys making music people love with fervor.
For a glimpse into their live show, check out Anticon's live performance of “Song of Sad Assassin,” at the Dublab.
WHY? - "Song of the Sad Assassin" live at Dublab
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