Free Energy Concert Review

Philadelphia's own Free Energy!

By Cliff Drake

Philadelphia’s First Unitarian Church is one of my personal favorite venues, with its elegant outside appearance, soothing chapel shows, and its sparse and simple basement. Yet walking down the spiral staircase and into the small hallway, grabbing a ticket and emerging into the massive room, I was surprised to find it packed to the brim. Free Energy, a local and newly-formed, Philly band, was kicking off their summer tour, a tour that would lead them from coast to coast, from Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, IL, to Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo, Japan. A booming sensation after both James Murphy (of LCD Sound System fame) and Pitchfork’s raving reviews and interest, Free Energy has been able to develop a following with their classic rock n’ roll formula, mixed with influences across the board like Bruce Springsteen or Steve Miller Band, uplifted further with a more contemporary poppyness and relevance.

I was greeted with the cheerful indie rock of Jukebox the Ghost upon entering the venue. Jukebox, a small outfit out of the DC/Baltimore community, offered me quite the warm reception. Angsty and sporadic, they did a remarkable job simply getting people to move as they danced and jumped around the stage, with even the pianist impulsively shaking, pounding on the keyboard. Furthermore, they were able to keep the older viewers, which were abundant for a show like this, amused with their scattered yet significant guitar and piano interludes. With vocals changing emotional tone from lyrical conversations to cooing harmonics, it suited the clashing and heavy bouncing downbeats framing each of their songs. Furthermore, like most pop indie bands out there, they incorporated the usual electronic synthesizers, yet in a suitable manor so as to not take away from many of the other elements they incorporated in their layering.

Yet there was a far different side to them that would appear in just a few songs, a moody and almost brooding tone over soft piano escalations. All of this together then created an image of almost indie dissociative identity, getting confused with its mood and circumstances yet overall joyous in their expression of youth.

After Jukebox’s set, the crowd grew louder yet motionless. There was a wave of energy as everyone anxiously awaited Free Energy, refusing to leave the stifling room and wall of humidity so as to ensure a good spot for the show. So clawing into the front left of the stage, I too joined the masses in anticipation, witnessing the band slowly sound check and tune in with the crowd sporadically screaming out as each member checked out their instruments. So starting with a bang, Free Energy began with its screeching guitars and crashing cymbals as the bass casually flows, creating momentum and inertia for the others to intertwine with. Beyond this though, a statement of Free Energy is with Paul Sprangers casual yet melodic vocals, creating a sense of calm amongst the ocean of classic rock n’ roll thrashing.

This statement then is a welcome departure from many of the acts that come out now a days, where artists have trouble creating an authentic rock n’ roll sound with delicate yet forceful vocals without crossing the line into a more fragile, angsty indie sound. Yet Free Energy is able to walk this line without collapsing into either side, creating a very much universally appealing sound that appeals to not only different genres, but also different generations entirely. A throwback to a time when rock and pop seemed to be inseparable, Free Energy’s set then was full of a showmanship that has long been missing from live shows. With front man, Paul Sprangers, pacing the stage and pointing out towards girls in the audience, it was quite the show. Whether you see this as cute or heinously cheesy, it proved wildly entertaining to me as I felt myself submerge into long lost nostalgia. All in all then, the show proved to be an entertaining experience with wildly passionate acts as well as fans creating an atmosphere of bliss and cheer. Regardless of your personal opinion, their live show proved surprisingly amazing and a reminder of what live music has been missing for too long.