Michelle Shiers on May 3rd, 2015

2

Not every band will allow time in their show for the audience to take selfies with the members on stage. But electro-pop group Big Data are conscious of such social trends and obsessions with technology.

Powered by NYC’s Alan Wilkis who plays, produces, and mixes everything on the recorded tracks, Big Data performed live as a quintet on Friday night at the Troubadour. Three of the members were in white suits while Wilkis and vocalist Liz Ryan were in black.

||| Photos by Michelle Shiers

The opened their set with “The Business Of Emotion,” which featured White Sea (aka Morgan Kibby of M83), then moved into “Bombs Over Brooklyn: from their debut EP “1.0.” Wilkis moved forward and backward on the stage swiftly as Liz Ryan crouched in front of the first row lifting her sunglasses to see the audience.

The biggest surprise of the night came early on as New Zealand pop artist/fashionista Kimbra took the stage to perform “The Glow” dressed in a strange gray cape-like sweater. She quickly morphed into the exuberant performer and showed off her powerful abilities for unique vocal arrangements and for becoming the focal point of any room she is ever in.

Of Big Data’s 13-song set, only a couple tracks were not off their full-length “2.0.” “The Stroke Of Return” was from their debut EP and they breathed new life into Hall & Oates’ “Private Eyes.” The set was occasionally narrated by a female computer voice named Alexis, whose robotic matter-of-factness made everyone laugh. Guitarist Russell Henson, bassist Ben Campbell, and drummer Gunnar Olsen help give Big Data a full-band band sound that Wilkis wants from his synth-heavy, paranoid electro-pop.

Alexis instructed everyone “Big Data would now like you to turn your flashlight or screen toward them as they begin their next song.” They then moved into the haunting “Automatic” to a sea of digital lights. “Perfect Holiday” was the darkest moment of the night where Ryan showed off more operatic vocals. At one point, Henson came forward to shred a few licks center stage – a guitar sound that moved from rock to punk to cinematic to surf throughout the set keeping Big Data all over the map in terms of style and influence. They closed the main set with “Get Some Freedom” with the lyrics “Whatever you want/together we’re in formation/Just like everyone” suggesting Wilkis’ obsession with the necessary evil that is technology will remain a huge inspiration for his work. Alexis explained to the audience the concept of the encore just before Big Data emerged to go out with the bang of their hit-single “Dangerous.”

Big Data were supported by Los Angeles quartet The Moth & The Flame, whose overwhelming alt-rock kept the audience on their toes. Backlit by a large illuminated ampersand, The Moth & The Flame built up a bombastic momentum throughout their set and their shining synth lit the stage more than any lights could have. New single “Young & Unafraid” was the most powerful song of theirs with a sound huge but also hugely unpretentious. The best combination. They kick off a residency at the Echo on Monday night.