Cult Called Man didn’t hold back during their opening for All Tvvins, as they went all out both musically and fashion-wise. Frontman Razmo wore a printed suit and sliver glittered platform boots that seemed tall enough to qualify as stilts. (Though after the gig he understandably ditched them for a pair of worn trainers.) With a sound that somehow seemed to balance between the retro and the futuristic, Cult Called Man definitely earned the right to rock the tallest glam-rock boots they can find.
As we were waiting for All Tvvins to take the stage, a set of rapidly blinking christmas lights caught my eye from where they hung around the neck of a concertgoer. She explained that they’re actually for a Halloween costume (ten points if you can guess who she went as- hint: Netflix mom) and she thought hey, why not bring them to the gig. Even though she’s the only one who wore anything that lights up, it turned out that she was also the only one who wasn’t under-dressed, as the Olympia lit up brighter than any rave. All Tvvins built up anticipation with dimmed lights and swelling bass notes that shook the floor before launching into their first song with blinding stage lights flashing to keep up with their sound. Their new single “Thank You,” was definitely a standout of the show, with the pulsing drum beat keeping everything grounded even as the electrifying guitar riffs gave it that celestial, outer-space rock vibe that All Tvvins are known for.
Though vocalist Conor Adams mainly stayed attached to his mic, there wasn’t a bit of the stage that guitarist Lar Kaye missed, dancing wildly around while still managing to hold on to his guitar. He tore around so fast it was almost hard to keep track of him, but it definitely didn’t seem to wear him out. The energy escalated as the night went on. The audience was only trying to keep up.
Those of us on the floor of the Olympia were able to do our best to join Kaye’s one-man dance party, but for those further up in the balconies, it was a little harder to join in. Adams was sure to check in with the balcony crowd with a shout out. While the opulent beauty of the Olympia definitely made for an interesting venue, the division between fans in the balconies and on the floor level didn’t match up with the spirit of the gig. There wasn't enough space for most of the audience to participate. It was only when the confetti cannons went off during "Darkest Ocean," that the audience got a new burst of energy. Though you shouldn't miss a gig from All Tvvins regardless of where they play, the theater setting seemed a little too contained for the energy of the audience.