Ernest Greene, a.k.a. Washed Out, is a no-frills performer. This was apparent from the moment he walked on stage Tuesday night at the Music Farm—to set up his own synths. While most musicians would be sipping beer in the green room as a roadie set the stage, Greene was carrying his own equipment and meticulously hooking up cables.
The Georgia native’s music lands snuggly in the chillwave genre, but his live performance was anything but chill. Touring in support of his recent Sub Pop release, Paracosm, Greene’s live show brought energy to an otherwise laid back album. Finally, after a song or two, Greene acknowledged the crowd, saying Charleston was “like a second home” for him.
Waves of lo-fi synths engulfed the room. The levels were turned way up and it was loud. The stage was adorned with a boat-load of silk flowers and delicate lights strung to the rafters. The chill grooves and simple melodies normally found on Washed Out’s studio efforts were transformed into danceable party tunes via a live backing band.
Columbia-based Those Lavender Whales and Atlanta’s Ponderosa opened the show.
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