BOSTON, MA | A sold-out Roadrunner crowd was teleported into a dream-pop induced bliss as electronic group M83 blasted off in support of their latest album Fantasy.
M83’s stop in Boston came in the middle of their tour, showcasing the band’s talent as they fired on all cylinders. Fascinating visuals and an incredibly mixed sound engaged the packed house with music filled with pure emotion—evoking unique memories of the past to make a performance personal for each attendee.
As a fan, there is nothing more exciting than a surprise new album announcement and a tour to support—especially a band you weren’t sure you’d ever see live. Since their inception in 1999, M83 has only played six shows in Boston, with the last being in 2016.
Before this announcement, I watched older performances on YouTube to get a sense of how their incredibly produced songs on previous albums translated into a live setting. Primary songwriter and lead vocalist Anthony Gonzalez also used this concept as his central theme for M83’s newest release Fantasy.
“I wanted this record to be very impactful live,” said Gonzalez. “The combination of guitars and synths is always in my music, but it’s maybe more present on this new record than on previous ones.”
M83 kicked off their set with the first three songs in sequential order off this latest release. The band was illuminated by a striking lighting display, at times immersed in fog, and backlit by a screen displaying the four-eyed character featured on Fantasy’s cover. Gonzalez played guitar for the majority of his set, and this seemed to amplify his moving vocals. An immense bass-filled sound was felt deep in your chest and captivated the crowd for the entire set.
The colorful Kaela Sinclair raised the emotional level contributing with vocals and piano. Joe Berry on synth/saxophone also made an impact with solos and filling out the sound. New tracks off Fantasy sounded exactly like the album. These two artists played a large role in that success as they both performed on the new record.
Songs off Fantasy are a balance of electronic and rock elements while containing sonic characteristics from previous records that defined their signature sound. Dave Woodbine of Colorado, said “’Oceans Niagara’ makes me feel like a kid again.”
Rich from Wakefield, R.I., was seen rocking out along the front rail with his nine year-old daughter by his side. This is already her tenth concert experience. “It’s important to bring my child to as many shows as possible,” he said. “My best memories growing up were all connected to music and I want her to experience that too.”
M83’s music has been defined as a soundtrack to nostalgia and youth. It was fitting to see this concert being experienced by an excited child in awe—as the rest of the crowd felt the same way inside.
