As a music fan that always aims to catch the opening acts of shows, I can safely say that those performers have a lot of pressure on them. Not only do they have to set the vibe for the rest of the night, but they often have to do so while the crowd is anxiously awaiting the headliner. Thankfully last week at Radius, The Flints took the opening spot for Justice and completely nailed it. Not only did the pair's energy and music fit perfectly with the night, it left a lasting impression on the eager audience.
The Flints are the duo of George and Henry Flint, Manchester twins that are making some incredibly fun music. I sincerely challenge you to listen to any of their songs and not find a burst of joy in the sound. It's a menagerie of influences and genres are that carefully layered on top of one another creating something familiar, but undoubtedly new. On their official releases their sound is a hazy but somehow neatly pristine treat, imbued with highs of '70s disco and tinted with a bit of psychedelic sidesteps that make for the best music to dance your night away.
However, live their sound is a wholly different beast. Maybe it's because they were tasked with opening the night for Justice, but their songs seemed to permeate with even more pulsing rhythms than I could have imagined. Nearly every track seemed to flow with additional danceable grooves that had the crowd mesmerized. "Finally Forever" especially raised its already ethereal soundscapes all the more, lending itself to the more club-like atmosphere of the night.
George and Henry were constantly moving on stage, shifting between their spots, often exchanging synths and guitars with a fluidity that is inherent in the music. I honestly couldn't keep track of who I was seeing or hearing at any given moment as they blended together as well as their songs. I would snap one shot of George on his guitar and it would be Henry in my viewfinder, shredding away. The pair just work so well together, feeding off each other's vibe and the obvious enthusiasm the crowd had for their songs.
Moments of all-out madness were sprinkled throughout their set as they truly gave into the more electronic side of the night. With flashing red lights pounding the crowd, one of the brothers was completely melding with his guitar while the other was zoned in at the table, adjusting knobs and kitting pads creating the most frantic sounds of the night. They seemed completely entrenched in their performance, lost in the craft of it as much as the crowd was lost in the dance. "Serengeti" hit some of the highest notes of their set as the duo seemingly invoked the psychedelic gods for one hell of a performance. There was no doubt that the packed Radius crowd was left satisfied and ready for the rest of the night.
All photos by Julian Ramirez