Since the release of their first full-length album, An Awesome Wave, Alt-J have enjoyed a steady rise in the ranks of the indie music scene. At their sold-out performance in Chicago, audience anticipation was high and the excitement surrounding what was most people’s first glimpse of the band’s live act was palpable. The signs warning of intense strobe lighting seemingly guaranteed an energetic and exciting performance. While they did have a fantastic set, the band’s energy was not quite on par with what I had expected. They sounded amazing, as anticipated. There was however very little audience interaction; they performed almost as if we weren’t there. Aside from a few kind words from Gus Unger-Hamilton, we really did not hear from the band at all. Still, there is much to be said about the overall strong performance they gave as a relatively young act. It will be interesting to watch them grow in the coming year as they continue their extensive tour across the globe.
