OK Go at First Ave in Minneapolis MN on April 2nd,
2015.
There was supposed to be an opening act but they canceled
about a week prior to the show. I got an email that they had canceled. I
thought that was fine because that meant more time with OK Go.
The doors opened at 7PM. I think we got there a little after
7. OK Go was supposed to take the stage at 8:30 because the opening band had
canceled. Apparently there was a technical issue that they were working on and
they didn’t take the stage until 9.
This was OK because we always go over the merchandise booth
to check out what was for sale. We went over there and saw that the only thing
out were t-shirts and tote bags. There was a piece of cardboard that had items
and prices on the table. It did list CDs and vinyl on the cardboard but they
were not out at the time. I was a little disappointed because I wanted to pick
up a CD. I have all of their albums on CD and all albums that have been pressed
on vinyl, not all of there albums have been pressed on vinyl. I was lucky
enough to get in on their Pledge Music campaign and got their latest album on
vinyl signed by the group. Anyway, the new album or any other music they may
have had for sale was not out when I was at the merch booth so I didn’t get
anything.
When the band finally got ton stage there was this cool
montage that played where they took lots of different clips from movies over
the years where actors said the words OK and or Go. It was really cool and at
the end of it Kermit the Frog introduces the group. They started with the hard
hitting Upside Down & Inside Out. They were playing behind a white sheet.
There was some cool video being played on the sheet of each of their heads
singing the song with digital distortion. It was a lot of fun.
I was surprised to learn that they used two bass guitars on
the song The Writing’s On The Wall. I always liked it for the Joy Division/New
Order sound that they achieved. I know that the sound originated with the bass
and certain pedals that Peter Hook used but OK Go have somewhat side stepped
this with the use of two bass guitars. It is a creative way to get the job done
but that also means that there is no guitar in the song as Damian is making the
synth sounds happen while he is singing. Either way it is still a great song
that I love for the heavy influences of Joy Division/New Order.
After the song I Want You So Bad Damian told us a story
about the first single that changed his life, Herbie Hancock – Rocket, then an
even shorter story about Prince – Purple Rain. Last we had a little question
and answer session because of the technical issue, this was resolved fairly
quickly and then they went on to play Obsession.
I really like the song Obsession because of the synth drums
that are distorted. As they played the song they had over emphasized the synth
bass part on this live version and it totally took be by surprise. It was
amazing how that bass sound rolled through the crowd. It made my pants vibrate
with the sound but it didn’t go through my chest. In my experience a low blast
like that would roll through my whole body. This was somehow directed only at
the lower half of my body. I don’t know how it worked out that way but it was
unique and made the low bass more tolerable.
The song There’s A Fire was done in a very cool way. I had
actually seen a live clip of this song being played and knew this was going to
happen this way but, they asked the crowd to help make the drum machine sounds
for the song. They asked us to make the bass drum, the snare and both the
hi-hat open and closed sounds. We couldn’t seem to get the closed right,
someone kept screaming, so Damian made the sound for that part instead. The
other instruments were tiny synth boxes that were so cute. The song ended up
being a very stripped down version from what the studio version is.
Next, the band left the stage except for Damian. He came
into the crowd with just an acoustic guitar. He played the song Last Leaf. It
was very difficult to hear him as he did not come out with a mic. The guitar
was plugged in though. He played half of the song to one side of the crowd and
then turned to the other side of the crowd so they could hear the other half.
It was very cool and very intimate.
I really liked the cover of Led Zeppelin’s Black Dog. They
sounded near perfection to the studio version that Led Zeppelin recorded way
back in 1971. The difference, of course, is that they are doing a cover and
that some of the sections are stretched out. I was taken aback by the detail in
the lead guitar part. It was so detailed and not sloppy at all. I know that
every kid who has picked up a guitar has played this song in Guitar Center and
I have heard many renditions just being in that store. The version that they
played during this concert was so much better, clear cut perfection.
The first song from the encore was A Million Ways. The group
came out in white suits and lip synced/danced to the song. They recreated the
dance they did for the video of the song. I was so cute and funny at the same
time. If you want to see what they did then you can check out the video for the
song on YouTube.
For White Knuckles the backlights were turned on and
suddenly their white suits were glowing brilliant colors. It was pure genius
and took the whole crowd by surprise. It was an easy way to make a great song
even better.
They then played the latest single I Won’t Let You Down. It
was a great rendition of the song. I wasn’t let down by the song but I have
seen the video so much, my two year old loves the video, that I almost expected
to see them do something with umbrellas while they played the song. That is
just my problem though. The song was still sung perfectly.
Set List:
OK Go Montage
Upside Down & Inside Out
You’re So Damn Hot
The Writing’s On The Wall
I Want You So Bad I Can't Breathe
Obsession
This Too Shall Pass
There’s A Fire
Last Leaf
Needing/Getting
I’m Not Through
Get Over It
The One Moment
Skyscrapers
Do What You Want
Cover: Led Zeppelin – Black Dog
Turn Up The Radio
Encore
OK Go Video Montage
A Million Ways (Lip Sync/Dance)
White Knuckles
I Won’t Let You Down
Here It Goes Again
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