Loud, joyous, and innovative, Boris is that rare band that mixes pleasure with progression. The band's trippy yet crushing aesthetic can be many things---poignant, manic, raw, or sparse. The one thing it cannot be, however, is anyone else, and that is why seeing Boris on this Friday evening is such a rare treat.

Things are further compounded by the fact Boris is well known for their surprising concert experience. With an extensive back catalog of nineteen studio albums, Boris slightly changes their set list every gig in an effort to keep older and newer fans equally pleased. As if that were not enough, the band famously drapes their sets in mind-altering light and smoke displays. 

The final shock---at least personally speaking---comes in the form of session guitarist Michio Kurihara. A talented gun-for-hire in the trip-rock guitarist world, Kurihara's collaborative work with Boris has often produced some of the band's most powerful music. With him alongside the rest of the regular band, the evening is set for a night of aural fireworks.

In truly spectacular fashion, said pyrotechnics begin with ripping barnstormer "BUZZ-IN" and never let up. Seeing as "BUZZ-IN" is a new cut from this year's magical Smile album, the crowd responds with nothing short of wired intensity. 

From there, the band hits hard with other Smile tracks. Chief amongst these are the precision assault of "Laser Beam," the raucous metal party of newest single "Statement," and more. 

Even after all this, older tracks make the cut as well. "Pink," a song off the 2005 album of the same name, appears first, igniting mania within the crowd. The roar of "Woman on a Screen" meets with similar response, before everyone is lost in the crush of psychedelic boogie "Electric." 

The above is obliterated, however, when the band finally unveils their ace-in-the-hole. Said magnum opus is a 30 minute jam session, the likes of which ends in a cloud of melodic feedback so encompassing it feels like breathing neon. As the wall of sound steamrolls everything and everyone, drummer Atsuo Mizuno scales  his drum set and poses for a wild crowd. As if this feat of daring were not enough, the crazed skinsman ascends the amp stack, hangs like a monkey, and drops like an angel from Heaven into the adoring crowd below. As the guitars ring, twinkle, and collapse upon themselves, the venue achieves communal harmony with tonight's magicians, sending them off in style.

Always the innovators, Boris has been known to classify albums as either "boris" (experimental) or "BORIS" (rock) albums. Let me just say that BORIS definitely showed up for tonight's performance. This is one show worth going out of your way for.
 

Photos by Kayleigh Athena Sutherland

Boris Live

Rating:9.0

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