The Shins Live at Terminal 5

The Shins just completed a three-night, sold out run at New York City's Terminal 5 and I had the chance to catch the first show on Sunday, 4/29. They are currently on tour in support of their new album, Port of Morrow, which is the first Shins album in five years, and this is probably their first tour in just as long. I knew I was lucky when my girlfriend got through on Ticketmaster and got us tickets, especially since it came after the dreaded "Your wait time is 15 or more minutes" message. But, we got in, and fortunate we were to catch such an epic show.

We arrived at Terminal 5 at 8:45pm and the venue was packed, completely overflowing with people. The crowd was comprised mainly of mid-20-to-early-30-year-olds, which is what I expected. The best spot to see a show at Terminal 5 is on the floor, directly in the center, or as close to the stage as you can get. Obviously, this was hardest place to get to. We squeezed through the back of the floor crowd, and settled in right in front of the sound engineers. We had some space, it was a little difficult to see the stage, but that was expected. I did end up being able to catch occasional glimpses of James Mercer through bobbing heads though.

The crowd was eager with anticipation and full of energy and when the band came on at 9:10pm there was a loud roar. It was great crowd, very lively, constantly dancing and focused on the music. The Shins dove right in with the classic "Caring is Creepy" and the crowd responded gratefully, it was bliss. From that point forward the band blistered through the entire set of 16 songs, stopping briefly only two or three times for banter and to thank the crowd. They moved their way through material both old and new, playing the crowd-pleaser classics and every single song off the excellent new album.

At this point in time, The Shins are clearly James Mercer. He is the creative force, the lead performer, and the show was driven by his stage presence and sheer joy. He was beaming the entire time and played with gusto. Delicate acoustic numbers such as "New Slang" and "September" were heartfelt, done with grace and passion. Energetic guitar rock numbers like "Simple Song" and "Australia" echoed through the venue and thrived as live versions, filled with intensity and vigor. Mercer was in top form and seeing him belt out those melodies and play his own unique brand of guitar pop rock was a true delight.

The concert was a perfectly balanced selection of songs, there were a lot of high energy rockers and then a bunch of beautiful slow numbers to catch your breath. The supporting band was impressive and talented, perfectly creating the setting of music for Mercer's performance and making their way beautifully through intricate compositions with many layers. They were also joined by Haley Dekle and Amber Coffman of the Dirty Projectors who sang background vocals for a few songs, most notably a stirring rendition of "Phantom Limb." The light show was also well done, completely in sync with the music and adding to to the performance.

Here's a video of the outstanding "Simple Song" performance:

Mercer and his band made this show memorable, it was a transcendental experience, the music carrying you to another place, a happy place. It was a concert that sticks with you for a long time and makes you feel lucky you were there.

Setlist:
Caring is Creepy
Mine's Not a High Horse
Simple Song
Bait and Switch
Australia
Pam Berry
Phantom Limb
The Rifle's Spiral
Saint Simon
No Way Down
So Says I
It's Only Life
40 Mark Strasse
New Slang
Port of Morrow
Sleeping Lessons

Encore:
September (James Mercer solo acoustic)
Kissing the Lipless
One by One All Day

The Shins - Port of Morrow

I was able to score tickets to see The Shins at Terminal 5 in New York City on April 29th. They're touring in support of their new album, Port of Morrow, and playing three nights in NYC. I've never had the chance to see them live, so I jumped at the opportunity. When was the last time they even toured? Since this was the first album release in five years, it had to be around that long ago, at the very least.

I've always been a fan of frontman James Mercer's music. Not absolutely obsessed, but a fan. I could listen to any Shins album in its entirety and enjoy every track. I love the popular hits (Caring is Creepy, New Slang, Australia, Phantom Limb), but I especially liked that their albums could be appreciated from start to finish. I also absolutely loved Mercer's side project with Danger Mouse, Broken Bells. I've never had a Shins "phase," but Mercer's music has been in my iPod, on my computer, in my CD cases, and on my shelves for a long time now.

The Shins - Port of Morrow

Port of Morrow is James Mercer at his best. It's everything I like about the Shins and more. It's that same unique brand of classic guitar pop/rock. The jangling, daydreaming sound is still there, as is the focus and effort in the studio and the top-notch production value. It's a vibrant record with each individual song presenting it's own story and feel.

"The Rifles Spiral" opens the album with a fury, it's a rock song that's powerful and heavy, getting your head bobbing right away. "Simple Song" is the immediate standout on the record. It's Mercer's power pop that he's become known for, slowly building to a musical swell and a blissful chorus, resulting in a broad smile while listening. "40 Mark Strasse" and "September" both have a drifting, breezy feel, with a subtle country swing. They're beautiful ballads that remind me of Ryan Adams' best efforts. "Fall of '82" sounds like easy-listening pop-rock from the 70s and 80s. And there's "No Way Down," a bouncy, pop-rock-driven tune with a strong rhythm and lines like "Make me a drink strong enough to wash away the dishwater they said was lemonade."

With so many shifts in styles and different flavors for each song, it's hard to pin down this Shins' album to a specific genre or even time period. It's an all-around fantastic record that should be listened to from beginning to end. It's a one-of-a-kind experience that is at the same time nostalgic as it is groundbreaking.

Port of Morrow is already topping lists as one of the best albums of 2012. Don't call it a comeback, Mercer's been here for years.

Album Highlights: The Rifle's Spiral, Simple Song, September, No Way Down, 40 Mark Strasse... just listen to the whole album ok?!