There are many types of trippy – ask your hippie uncle for specifics – and Panda Bear continues to sink into the gooiest part of the spectrum. The Animal Collective co-founder (AKA Noah Lennox) eased into his 3-day CMJ residency at the Bowery Ballroom with the same kind of good vibes that make people chase a high.
Thanks to the misty projections grazing his face last night, Panda Bear’s sound was accentuated with luscious lips, smashed blackberries, and his trademark rainbow haze. But it wasn’t all sugar and lights. At times, the spectacle morphed into eerie masks, and his own shadow began to look like a guest behind him – perhaps the Grim Reaper he’s always meeting up with. Drawn into Panda Bear’s world, the crowd inched closer and closer to the stage.
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With the kind of focus he pours into his performance, it almost feels like you’re stealing a peek into his mind. But he definitely knows you’re there. As Panda Bear brews wobbles and warmth, his incantations glide on the surface and guide you through the fog.
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Lennox’s voice has always been soothing in nature, and it’s especially evident when he’s leading the trip alone. Though you’re never sure where he’s taking you, there’s no place you’d rather be going.
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Article: Olivia Isenhart
