alt-J | NPR MUSIC FRONT ROW

Nothing was ordinary about this alt-J show - not that anything is ever ordinary from the artful British band.
But on Tuesday night at (Le) Poisson Rouge in New York City, alt-J would play its first concert in eight months: its first without departed friend and bassist/guitarist Gwil Sainsbury, its first with touring member Cameron Knight, and its first playing songs from the upcoming album This Is All Yours.
The new songs have all the power of the old ones, flush with textured sounds from Gus Unger-Hamilton's electronic horns, steel drums, voices, and dense washes of grit. Lyrically, the new songs are equal parts creepy, lovely, puzzling, and expressive. In that expression is precision; you can see it in drummer Thom Green (watch his left hand) and you can hear it in the guitar dynamics and vocal phrasing of Joe Newman. This isn't a band of pyrotechnic wizards, but alt-J's technical prowess helped make this performance a deep pleasure on an extraordinary evening. --Bob Boilen
SET LIST
Hunger Of The Pine - 0:28
Fitzpleasure - 5:10
Something Good - 9:00
Left Hand Free - 12:58
Dissolve Me - 16:10
Matilda - 20:29
Bloodflood Pt. 2 - 24:39
Tessellate - 29:48
Every Other Freckle - 34:26
Taro - 38:22
Warm Foothills - 43:32
The Gospel Of John Hurt - 47:03
Nara/Leaving Nara - 53:05
Breezeblocks - 58:35
CREDITS
Producers: Mito Habe-Evans, Otis Hart; Event Producer: Saidah Blount; Hosts: Bob Boilen, Russ Borris; Videographers: Mito Habe-Evans, Colin Marshall, Maia Stern, A.J. Wilhelm; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Additional Editing: Colin Marshall; Special Thanks: (Le) Poisson Rouge; Executive Producer: Anya Grundmann

[@kayzpal]

I can't get enough of Alt-J.

[@nataliasastre6967]

me neitherrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[@aribathlevic.s.1133]

I looove how they smile while they're playing, like really enjoying what they're doing

[@KJESUS]

Bloodflood Pt. 2 - Awesome!

[@sofiacalderon5061]

Nara leaving Nara was AWESOME also Unger Hamilton killed it in Left Hand Free. And i must say Taro sounded fucking AMAZING

[@maxselinov3301]

best drummer ever

[@naretia]

lol

[@sethie_shots]

He good - best 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@rugby342]

You need to listen to more music if you think this drummer even ranks in the top 10. Check out the drummer from Tool, Danny Carey, and the Vic Firth drum cam of the song Pneuma. Guarantee Danny can play any of Alt J songs but im sure Alt J's drummer couldnt play half of Tool's songs.......jmo

[@zubeyirylmaz4786]

yoo boi slowly slowly, easy

[@kathyhollenbach7413]

@Max Selinov, saying he's, "the best" always leaves the door open for others to comment that you're wrong. I never heard these guys before but I sure think he's special too.

[@fiorellapaiz7092]

Yes, it´s 2021 and best part is when 26:03 Love you, Joe.

[@juanmanuelperea]

It needs more cowbell.

[@alwayswanderingyetneverlos8611]

And YES thank you NPR!! So glad I found. 😄

[@melindaalexander5778]

I love this group..their music reminds me of a modern twist of Pink Floyd..great stuff!

[@fun-ghi]

Oh dear, I wish this playlist never ended...

[@Liamissocolllike]

Yes another Alt J video I love these guys.

[@spinningfilms5760]

I can't decide if I like them live or not, sometimes they sound better than the album and then sometimes not

[@DarthVader-wg8yn]

I saw them live and they were insane. It just depends on the money spent on the equipment and producers.

[@ohrightthatswhy]

I hate watching live videos of them, I think they sound awful. But I saw them live recently and it absolutely blew me away. They've a sound that is really hard to capture digitally. When you're there and the bass is pulsing through you, and you're sweaty and dancing surrounded by sweaty people who are as in love with the music as you are, it just takes you to another place.

[@bogdanique]

It's just that Thom makes a lot of mistakes sometimes... yet at their concert at KEXP with the first album he's perfect. But this one here - terrible.

[@y0sMaSTer]

51:16 is everything.

[@renu97ful]

Thank You alt-J! awesome work here!

[@blastedburrito110]

They still sound as perfect and haunting as always. I thought the off beat was part of the song

[@dirtonmyshoes]

I haven't heard a better opening song in a set. Remember missing my Final year project submissions to see them live in B'lore. Undoubtedly the best concert of my life yet.

[@ashleybailey5513]

Intro.....

[@ashleybailey5513]

Introoooo

[@dalewohler429]

AWESOME band !!!

[@philippeshewchenko]

Can't wait for the album!

[@alwayswanderingyetneverlos8611]

WHAT a jewel 💎 I am sharing. SO HAPPY I found THIS!!!!! Thank you!☝️🌻

[@micoro0202]

I just listened to their Tiny Desk Concert! I was hoping to see more of them. Thanks, NPR Music :-)

[@AntonKudin]

Wow such an amazing group! Thanks!

[@user-ky3uz3yy6f]

●１５：２０当たりのKeyソロは、サイコーですね。お二人とも鬼籍（ですよね？）～御大Ｍ・デイヴィス師と、ドアーズ の要、Ｒ・マンザレイク氏を彷彿と・・・ですばいバイ。

[@katigust]

Tesellate's intro makes me shiver everytime ♥

[@ramaprabowo9902]

these guys are awesome

[@ciaranprunty919]

my favourite band! seeing them on the 27th :D

[@benmishaev1488]

amazing!

[@KidIndigo1]

Wow. Heard them on the radio. Seeing them doing it live.... just wow.

[@DDRandDSLover]

Oh man, I loved The Gospel of John Hurt - that was great. I feel like I'm going to like this album a lot. Can't wait for it to be released!

[@aledmb]

what a song that is!!!

[@suzic4521]

Mesmerizing......

[@garrettrice720]

warm foothills... beauty

[@hugh_who]

you can hear the nerves in his voice at the start it was like a teenager, but he did the best he could still love em

[@generoenker6814]

ALT-J IS AWESOME,,,

[@kathyhollenbach7413]

I've been reading the comments and there are a lot of disappointing remarks. Idk what they normally sound like but I really enjoyed it.

[@JonatanPein]

they're genius

[@Mandragora333sissou]

I'm the only one who miss the blond hair of Gwil Sainsbury?? T.T

[@sofiacalderon5061]

:-( nope i miss him playing the castañuelas!

[@blkduke]

Sofia Calderon g9 up 7gm fu5uggg hi e uoh 8g hi 7gi,t ff fun uuu yvonne j hi8 tv u if u. UCIh hhhhb b 7uutuugf7g8ggffg 8 ci h u jk vy

[@ghostie7790]

Siss S YEAH WHAT HAPPEN TO HIM? :(

[@sahartyman]

Siss S it devastates me that he's not with them. but he doesn't really enjoy the spotlight and what's the point if it's not fun anymore?

[@Drenwickification]

ghostie7790 he decided to leave... from what the other members have said it seems he disliked how big and famous the band was getting and that non stop touring wasn't for him. They're still best friends with him, so there's every chance he could change his mind one day and rejoin i guess.

[@valentinaluchini1314]

Los aaaaamo tanto

[@MrLeoBuho]

como es tu IG user?

[@ErgensUit1987]

Play Taro on 0.75 speeed..... stunning.

[@jasmineh0930]

Alt j is the bomb diggity

[@jharg001]

I love them regardless...but is something going on with Joe Newman's voice? The new album makes me want to bring him to a doctor. :( Hope it's just a phase!

[@Natasha123428]

They are AMAZING!!! But I'm afraid if I seen them live I'd be disappointed :/ The sound dosent seem to be as strong live as it does on autio!

[@christianvotion4096]

They are actually really great live it's just this performance is a little off

[@122172639]

Check the KEXP VIP live concert or even NPR's tiny desk concerts with them... they are better sound capturing (I've seen them live where the KEXP show was and at another venue in Seattle, and the venue acoustics were so wildly different that it was a bit weird). This is the first time performing a new album. Not many do it for NPR Music-must be a bit hellish to test it on this sort of audience instead of, you know, small local dives like most will do while ironing out their live set.

[@krystynaoklesinska9301]

THANKS 4 YOURS COMING ........................................... :)

[@marmite1213]

Cool

[@JamesRockett]

Amazing. Saw their Dallas show, sound just as good in person

[@tuckersmith5652]

+James Rockett House of Blues? Maybe they've played here again since, but I saw them there a couple years or so back, before their latest album was released. It was undoubtedly one of the better shows I've ever been to. I actually wasn't a huge fan before that show, but I left as one.

[@connorautomotive]

Gus' solo at 14:30 goes nuts

[@turnoffthetv]

The rice cake version is better.

[@dreamerx360]

turnoffthetv omg

[@williamcole960]

+turnoffthetv Rice cake?

[@irisbernabe8645]

Search "How to Write an Alt-J song", and all of your questions will be answered

[@turnoffthetv]

I still think the rice cake version is better but this is growing on me.

[@martinacosse137]

34:19 ninja shout

[@piningmartin]

The new touring guitarist's Strat looks exactly the same as Gwil's - surely it can't be the same one? Even if not bit of an odd reminiscence to evoke.

[@PedroGonzalez-tx8cg]

"Tessellate" *they are singing Interlude I*

[@carolinag934]

interlude I and tesellate are kind of "together", they always play them like that

[@PedroGonzalez-tx8cg]

Yes, I know. I meant that in the set list they called Tessellate to the combination of both tunes c:

[@jackmoves5552]

This music should be listened to ease your soul back into the loving embrace of God. It is especially helpful for my Brothers and Sisters out there "Dealing" with PTSD. Feel the beat of God taking the load off your shoulders, the sweet hummmm..... relax..... Always remember to take care in all you do.

[@shawnbowers6141]

Gus is the coolest dude!

[@popipop3428]

When will the violence stop... when someone stand in front of me two way with the lights..........just once stand against the persecution....

[@ZoSo42084]

where'd it go

[@jbskate98]

Not the same without Gwil...

[@kathyhollenbach7413]

Who was Gwil?

[@toddhenson2691]

where's Gwil Sainsbury???

[@Miguel-eh6fo]

He left the band

[@JanainaJubJub]

John Hurt is too good... fuck

[@nirke_]

His voice is all but gone. I thought the instruments sounded pretty great.

[@automono]

I think he is afraid to shout, but he needs to.

[@DomImaBoss]

I think he sounds the same as he does on record. I think he sounds fantastic live. I must be deaf

[@davidrenwick6851]

DomImaBoss really?! even at 50:20 ? All I can hear then is the backing vocals

[@kathyhollenbach7413]

Does he have a medical condition that is causing his voice to lose it's richness? Maybe he has a cold or something....

[@griselitaan01]

joe has a roquet racoon shirt n......n!!!!!

[@paulaayelenalberti]

su voz suena cansada. es extraño porque dicen que no tocan desde diciembre.

[@nandiwardhanawaranugraha6002]

ahahahhahaha lol!! they always perform without any rehearsal

[@randamlife28]

8:41 wtf Kassem G joined alt-j?

[@sethie_shots]

Is it me or is the bass super muddy in this mix?

[@michaelnicholson9920]

They've gone the way of St. Vincent and are no longer as strong anymore. (St. Vincent really blew-it by kicking out her old band with the baroque instruments for the 2 synthesizer attack. Her new stuff sure is not Actor nor is her new hipster sci-fi image. Why do my bands always let me down...)

[@cm-r384]

It can't be easy to reproduce what they record on the album...but this seems legitimately sloppy. Right off the bat, Hunger of The Pine...when they come to the shift at 3:22. Total lack of punch. Maybe it's the way it was recorded. Then you look at The Gospel Of John Hurt. It starts off very well, but Gus's harmonies are pretty off at 49:51. I love this band, but I have a feeling they could improve in significant ways for their live performances.

[@moylan100]

+Cédric Morier-Roy Read the description--this was their first concert in 8 months and their first one without Gwil, so it makes sense that this wouldn't be their best performance. I went to their concert that had this exact setlist a few weeks ago and it was ridiculously good, so go see them live if you can. It's hard to translate a lot of their sounds onto just a video of a concert

[@cm-r384]

+Ana Moylan Glad to hear they were able to give a better performance, but at their level, having a band member leave and not playing in 8 months is no excuse for sloppy harmonies! If you have to, rehearse until you forget your name! Unless he couldn't hear himself(which seems odd, as they should've had a lengthy soundcheck), there's no legitimate reason for him to be off pitch.

[@audreyfauberg6890]

+Ana Moylan lns

[@gammaxi1275]

If you want to hear studio perfect stuff, buy the album. People go to and like live versions because of the experience and to hear the band as humans, in their imperfect form. If live concerts sounded exactly like the studio albums there would be no point.

[@cm-r384]

+gammaxi1275 Agreed, but there's a point where "imperfect form" resembles laziness more than it does authenticity.

[@markhammondmarsmanrising9721]

I really like alt-j but they really are bad live. Its funny they even added at the beginning they haven't played live in 8 months so it wouldn't seem as bad, but as a professional band they should be practicing much more and have things tight, they owe it to the people who had to pay for the show at the very least.

[@MrGeary08]

but this was great? i would pay to go to this

[@ChiHawk214]

His voice sounds terrible. I love their tracks, but Lollapalooza last year was a big disappointment and I'm starting to think it wasn't some fluke thing.

[@adamoliver3160]

I'm a massive alt j fan but this is terrible!!

[@glitterintheairxoxo]

I've seen them live and I've gotta say this is a shitty representation of their true talent and performance quality. Their show was the best I've ever seen (after Phoenix at Lollapalooza, you know how it is) and this was just disappointing. Something was definitely weird here.

[@VArolinaFilms]

I wanted to enjoy this but...I didn't.

[@michaelnicholson9920]

Local Natives does this genre better...

[@TRYBEmusic]

not impressive :c they got better stuff

[@Durlesteanu]

This stupid KZbin Autoplay is only playing big ass videos. Annoying! wtf?

[@KevanIrsch]

how is this band popular? they are terrible.

[@velvetthunder8]

Because they're music actually means something unlike most popular music. The singing is disappointing live, but who cares when all you need are lyrics that actually mean something to you and a lot of other people. Instruments are fantastic though, that's one thing they do well live and on the tracks.

[@fabioguarneri197]

'Cause they are alt-j and they are the best band on the world. Alternative is the way.

[@juanchovallejooo]

Kevan Irsch first you got to love them, really, its worth it, promes

[@thaidye5676]

this is a bad performance if you ask me. not the best example of what they are capable of