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    Review: Neon Trees at The Newport

    It’s been a while since I actually gave much thought to Neon Trees. Since the release of their 2010 dance-rock debut album Habits landed on Spotify and “Animal” crashed onto the CD102.5 airwaves it’s been something of a slow backwards walk for a band that should’ve gone the other way. However, Thursday nights “An Intimate Night Out With Neon Trees” show brought back all the reasons I liked the band in the first place as Tyler Glenn and company played the best songs they’ve got to a loving Newport crowd.

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    The early part of the show gave the onlooking crowd most of the best slices of early Neon Trees as cuts such as the brilliant “Sins of My Youth”, sing-along-song “1983” and the already mentioned “Animal” reminded everyone how good this band can be, especially in front of a crowd.

    The one thing that lifts Neon Trees above so many middle of the road radio bands in Glenn’s shut-up-and-watch-me vocal ability and eyes that somehow always seem to be looking right at you. It kinda helps that he’s also fun to watch as the peroxide headed front man covered the stage with high-kicks and random bouts of sex-laced slow-dancing.

    After the initial batch of pop-gems the band left the cozy confines of the first album and played a few tracks from later releases before ending with “Everybody Talks” off of sophomore album Picture Show.

    Despite the obvious irony of not really playing the bands music anymore, Glenn was happy to give shout-outs to Andyman and Leslie James of CD102.5 for the support they’ve given to a band that genuinely seems thankful to be playing in Columbus and spoke fondly of the bands first show here in 2010.

    Neon Trees may not be a band I listen to much anymore, but I don’t need to. The catchy songs and stage theatrics were never meant to last long in anyone’s head, but when the band play these songs live with the heart and passion that they do it’s impossible not a enjoy the magic of the moment — even if you’ll quickly forget it.

    To find more upcoming live music events, CLICK HERE to visit our Event Calendar.

    Matt Ellis is a freelance photographer who covers bands that visit the city and the Columbus Crew MLS team. More about Matt can be found at Matt Ellis Photography.

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    Matt Ellis
    Matt Ellishttps://www.instagram.com/3songsandgone/
    Matt Ellis is a freelance photographer who covers music that happens in the city and the Columbus Crew SC home games. More photography from Matt can be found at his Instagram page.
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