Neon Indian at First Avenue, Minneapolis (20 October 2015)

Neon Indian Setlist Dear Skorpio Magazine Annie The Glitzy Hive Terminally Chill Street Level 61 Cygni Ave C'est La Vie (Say The Casualties!) Mind, Drips Slumlord Slumlord's Re-lease Baby's Eyes Deadbeat Summer -- Encore -- Polish Girl News from the Sun Tour Dates 10/21 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre 10/22 - Columbus, OH - A&R Music Bar 10/23 - Buffalo, NY - Tralf Music Hall 11/07 - Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest 11/08 - New Orleans, LA - Republic 11/10 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West 11/11 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom 11/14 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre 11/15 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer Read More Neon Indian Neon Indian is the brain child of Alan Palomo. A young man from Mexico who has lived as a Texan for most of his life. He came into the scene with the album Psychic Chasms. It hit the blogsphere ...

On Tuesday, October 20th, Alan Palomo brought his “Night School” to First Avenue. A fitting venue considering the pomp and glitz he seems to exhibit with his new tunes, drawing comparisons to the rock stars of the 80’s. Especially a certain, local, purple icon. The Vega Intl. iteration of the Neon Indian band has 4 other members in it, I saw 3 synths on stage, a drum machine, a drummer, bassist (who is also Alan’s brother,) and a guitarist to round it all out. It definitely helps the polished synth pop sound fully fleshed out. I was very surprised not to see his iconic Theremin onstage though.

Alan Palomo photo: Steph Paxton

I became tuned into Alan’s music when I was in high school - I went on a cruise with a buddy and some relatives and remember listening to “Psychic Chasms” on repeat most of the journey. The album was even playing when I took a nap on the top deck and ended up with a sunburn. I guess that’s what happens when you are a deadbeat in the summer. To this day, if I listen to “Psychic Chasms” and close my eyes, I’m immediately transported to salty ocean breezes and the sound of the ocean being parted by the massive ship. When I read some of the background on the inspiration of his latest album VEGA INTL. Night School, “ I thought it was quite peculiar that this album had been conjured on a cruise ship itself!

Neon Indian photo: Steph Paxton

When I hear the songs from Night School I don’t conjure up a cruise ship, I hear the sounds of red light districts, the sounds of clubs at their climax of the night, and other evening noises. This album contains the playfulness of the first, it incorporates polished synth pop and grandeur from “Era Extraña”, and a grab bag of the sexiness and quirk from 80s pop stars, such as Prince, Michael Jackson and David Byrne. It’s as if Alan has continually been building upon “Psychic Chasms” and with “Night School” might have reached the point in music he’s been trying to since the beginning. It’s obvious he’s got a catchy and fun album on his hands. When I was riding my bike to the show and was blaring VEGA INTL. Night School tunes on my portable speaker, I saw many a bystander start to groove to the music.

Opener Explorer Tapes featured two members who joined in Neon Indian's touring band. I was pretty surprised to find it pretty packed for a Tuesday. The crowd was a sample survey of hip 20-40 somethings. I’ve found that it’s pretty hard to get a Minnesota crowd to dance unless you are straight up dance music, but Alan’s tunes seemed to conjure up something in the crowd. Shout out to the much older couple next to me who were dancing the whole night away.

He spent no time in firing up the audience with single “Annie” as his second song of the set, followed up by a tweaked version of “Terminally Chill” from his first album. Things started to really pick up once he started off into “61 Cygni Ave.” I’m very glad he decided to play “C’est La Vie (Say the Casualties!)” That song to me seems like something Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian would write, if he collaborated with David Byrne; it definitely has that Talking Heads feel at least. I think the crowd really liked that he dropped another “Psychic Chasms” tune, “Mind, Drips” in and the momentum was pretty solid from the Prince-like single, “Slumlord” to the closer, another “Chasms” tune, “Deadbeat Summer.” He finished off the night with an encore of “Polish Girl” and I think it was “News from the Sun” where he confessed he had a boner and told us he really loved us. I think that the boner is self-evident of that love, Alan.

After the show people stuck around and Alan was enthusiastic to meet his fans, and take all the photographs that were requested, and sign all the merchandise. We spoke to him in Spanish and found out he’s originally from Monterrey, Mexico. If the “Night School” is heading your way, I highly recommend you check it out. It seems like Alan’s new mission is to get you to groove. Embrace the funk.

Neon Indian at First Avenue, Minneapolis (20 October 2015) photo: Steph Paxton

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