BAEBLE CONCERTS: Les Savy Fav at Solar One

Cars dashing by overhead, the East River sitting at my toes, and the New York City skyline slowly flicking on, light by light, in the background…It all makes for a rather handsome setting to catch a show. But when it is a performance from Les Savy Fav, that impeccable ambiance is nearly irrelevant. There is just too much happening on stage to get caught up in the New York moment.

"And when the sun runs out of light we’re gonna take power from the moon! Am I right? Think about the size of our cars that run on moon power, right?!"– Tim Harrington

That quote is obviously seeped in a wash in sarcasm. But if there is one band that might be able to exploit enough energy from a solar powered stage to render it useless, it is probably Les Savy Fav. Performing as part of City Sol - a clean-energy-powered festival that aims to inspire interest and support for local sustainability initiatives through, music, interactive art installations, games and workshops, and numerous other elements meant to both entertain and educate. – Les Savy Fav volatile and manic performance felt nostalgically reminiscent of the vintage, At The Drive In shows of my teenagehood. Of course where ATDI was serious business, Les Savy Fav is brash, yet good natured. Endlessly youthful, while somehow not looking it…at all, Tim Harrington is a showman blessed with back slapping banter, extravagant, on the spot creativity, and a Macgyver like instinct when it comes to finding ready-made stage props. Of course, as haywire as Harrington gets, he is one upped by Syd Butler, who outfitted his daughter in oversized headphones, and not only strapped into his bass, but also his baby carrier. - David Pitz