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The instruments were set. Sound was being checked. Anxious fans began bouncing around large beach balls. Obviously committed to the alternative rock style, Atlas Genius arrived fashionably late – 13 minutes to be exact – with Etta James’ "At Last" fittingly playing as they took the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage Friday night.
Like many of today’s musicians, Atlas Genius found their big break via the Internet. The band found success after being featured on the blog Neon Gold in 2011, and a year later, they went from fresh indie band to signing with Warner Bros. Records.
The Australian band – including two concrete members: the Jeffery brothers, Keith (lead vocals and guitar) and Michael (drums) – played the same stage at Summerfest two years ago and were gladly welcomed back Friday night with a bass guitarist and keyboardist in tow.
"How you doin’ Milwaukee," frontman Keith Jeffery asked the audience. The crowd, made up of many teenagers and young adults, instantly replied with energetic cheers. Thankfully, the overcast sky and active breeze made being in a horde of people slightly less uncomfortable.
The show opened with "Symptoms," and it was clear from the beginning that the vocals were being drowned out by the bass. It was quite unfortunate, however, because despite the subdued vocals, the show was still strong. The band members really knew how to perform and shined on stage despite the technical woes.
The first new song debuted off of the band's upcoming sophomore record was "Refugees," with the band then immediately going into the secondary fan favorite, "If So." Audience members moved equally to the rhythm of both songs, which must say something good about the new album ("Inanimate Objects," which will be available worldwide Aug. 28). As the show went on, Atlas Genius played a semi-healthy amount of old and new tracks, but it was obvious the group was pushing the fresh ones.
After finishing "Centred On You," the frontman jokingly asked why he doesn’t have a beer in his hand since Milwaukee is the land of the beer. Good question. Someone should have brought the man a beer.
Then came the moment all music-loving folk wait for: when a band member physically interacts with the audience. Keith Jeffery jumped down from the stage, moving past (sort of) the ever-so-loving security guards and getting as close as he could with the screaming fans. He jammed with his guitar and the crowd for a good long while before eventually finding his way back to the stage.
Once "Molecules" began playing, people really began to move. With an uplifting cadence and the band's incredibly smooth, cool vibe, this new track is sure to be a hit. It wouldn’t be a surprise if this energetic piece made an appearance in a TV commercial or movie in the near future – or a bar at the very least.
Some people seemed to lose interest as the show went on, but most stuck around until the end. The audience was clearly waiting for one song the entire set.
Finally, Keith Jeffery started singing the well-known verse, "Take it off. Take it in. Take off all the thoughts of what we've been," and the crowd immediately roared with approval and applause. The bands first single, "Trojans," ultimately brought them to fame, and this fan favorite was necessary after all the new pieces the Aussie band threw at the crowd.
All in all, Atlas Genius put on a good show – and served as a good opening act for The Kooks to get people warmed up to enjoy upbeat, body-rocking music – but the quiet vocals and the glut of new, unfamiliar songs may have cost them the crowd’s full attention.
