The Explosions in the Sky performance at Rams Head Live! last Saturday was sold out weeks before the day of the concert. The audience was anxious to watch them live, and the venue was packed about half an hour after the doors opened.
The opening band was The Antlers, an Indie rock band based in Brooklyn. Incorporating high-pitched male vocals, the band's music was reminiscent of that of the Icelandic band Sigur Rós.
During the 45 minute performance, The Antlers captivated the audience; however, their music was only a warm-up for what was to follow.
Shortly after 10 p.m., the stage was ready for Explosions in the Sky. The Austin quartet plus a fifth touring member was greeted with an even larger crowd on their third visit to Baltimore.
The band was ready to impress its Baltimore fans yet again with an emotionally explosive gig that justifies its name, and the fans were ready to be taken off their feet watching the Explosions in the Sky.
After a brief greeting by the leading guitarist Munaf Rayani, the band launched into "The Only Moment We Were Alone" from their 2003 album.
Lights directed towards the audience lit up as the music progressed through the intense crescendos, followed by darkness that accompanied the return to the soft and quiet melody.
The talented musicians induced a cathartic hypnosis on the packed house immediately with their intricate guitar melodies.
Without a need for vocals, the band let their music do the talking. Most of the set list consisted of newer material from their 2011 release, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care, the first of which was "Last Known Surroundings."
The last album of the band features taped vocal effects that sound like chanting. Hearing these effects blasting through the speakers at Rams Head Live! was truly captivating.
There was no single moment of complete silence throughout the whole concert, and the band played as loud as they could when they reached the climax of the songs. The third song was "Catastrophe and the Cure," which is considered to be a central element of the band's live performances as it allows leading guitarist Rayani to join Chris Hrasky on drums for the conclusion of the song.
This was an entertaining part of the concert for the audience, as Rayani happens to be the most expressive member of the band, not to mention that he was the only member to address the audience at the beginning and end of the concert.
The band followed this with "Be Comfortable, Creature," another song from their latest release, and "Greet Death." At times, the music was so loud that one felt pushed back by the sound waves – it was a mystery how anyone could still hear the main melody of the song during these loud intervals, clearly demonstrating the mastery of Explosions in the Sky at handling acoustics at live performances.
After three more songs, the band concluded their performance with "The Moon is Down."
Rayani thanked the audience, and the band was off the stage soon after the closing remarks, conspicuously reflecting that they were not doing an encore, which is a staple for their live performances.
It was a satisfying concert, nonetheless, that left the audience with a feeling of weightlessness, and everybody was amazed at the beauty of the live performance without words as they walked out into the rainy night.
