To see Wye Oak at The Sugar Club on Saturday was to witness a band in the midst of an evolution. Andy Stack and Jenn Wesner's latest output Shriek is a complete departure from its critically-acclaimed predecessor Civilian, with the guitar-heavy influence replaced by the bounce of a poppier synth production. While Shriek is one of the better albums of the year, when it comes to performing it live, Wye Oak are faced with the conundrum of showing off their newest creation – what they're most passionate about – while also being obligated to give the fans what they want.
Wye Oak found this balance masterfully in a rare Dublin show. Perhaps due to the fact that this was the penultimate stop on their tour, but there were no complications as they more or less transitioned between two different bands depending on which album they were playing from (Wesner would have to switch between the bass for Shriek tracks and the guitar for others). What could have been awkward pauses, such as when Wesner sustained some sort of neck injury, were carried by her indomitable charisma – she had won the audience over from the beginning. The Sugar Club can sometimes be unforgiving to performers whose presence is lacking. It's easy enough for the audience to settle into the plush couches and take on the role of the detached observer. This was definitely not the case on Saturday.
After an opening performance by New Zealander Bachelorette, whose one-man band style performance was impressive in its technicality, but lacking in its translation to the live setting, Wye Oak opened their set by descending right into Shriek opener 'Before'. Wye Oak take the same one-man band approach to their songs, but they manage to do so in a more open and expressive way, where they're not hidden behind their equipment and are a part of the live performance. For those who have never seen Stack play the drums and synth simultaneously, it is a joy to see in action. While a dependency on an electronic sound may sometimes lead to a certain sense of rigidity, there was none of that as all of the new material translated well with the spontaneity of a live show still intact. Wye Oak hadn't forgotten what made them great and while the sound may be different the spine and personality of what they are hasn't changed a bit.
Still, it wasn't hard to notice the reaction when Wesner would bring out the guitar. While it's an artists job to grow, the supporters are often steeped in the nostalgia of what makes up the artist. As Wye Oak would shift into some of their more popular tracks off of Civilian and The Knot, the crowd would rise a noticeable degree in an acknowledgement of their memories. But to the more casual fan, there was little difference between these two sides of the band. Wye Oak balanced the themes and stylings that were common in each aspect and their show flowed in a smooth manifestation of what Wye Oak is today.
Still, Wye Oak were not opposed to giving into nostalgia, doing so themselves as they came out for their encore to play their own interpretation of Kate Bush's iconic 'Running Up That Hill', followed by what is likely their best known song, 'Civilian', both of which received some of the loudest receptions of the night. While Wye Oak are by no means the same band they were during their pre-Shriek era, they haven't forgotten what made that incarnation of themselves great. As they continue to release more material, be it in the stylings of Shriek or in whatever influences may attract them between now and then, it will be interesting how they juggle the distinct styles. For now, they've managed to do so magnificently.