WHEN: OCTOBER 7, 2012
WHERE: JOHNNY D’S UPTOWN RESTAURANT AND MUSIC CLUB
The aura surrounding Perfume Genius when he performs is mystifying. At times, it is beautifully mesmerizing and spare. At others, it is pretty yet saturated with doomy sentiments. His latest EP, Put Your Back N 2 It, also comes full circle; it is an insanely dramatic and heartfelt record. Each track serves as an expansive outline for lush epics, and are simply harrowing when performed live. “AWOL Marine” was total angelic balladry. “No Tear” maintained its ability to be both elegant and elegiac. “Dark Parts” was full of textures that feel timeless. Songs from his staggering debut Learning also were just as soothing when excavated. “Perry,” “Mr. Peterson,” and “Dreeem” were pure weepers, but when delivered with such poise, luxuriating in sadness kind of felt exhilarating. And even though he performed to a full house on this particular night, it is clear that Perfume Genius should have a much broader scale in mind when it comes to his plan for musical domination.