With enough applause to make one believe they were in fact the headliners, Augustana took to the stage at the Roseland this past Saturday. Playing to a half capacity crowd, everyone was fully engaged, and the non-stop clapping and shrieks continued through out their set. The first half of their time spent on stage was reminiscent of driving down a country road. Playing with a mass of guitars, and the occasional inclusion of a multitude of other instruments including the harmonica and mandolin, Augustana were able to effortlessly achieve a blue-grass affect on their pop.
They proceeded to invite the welcoming audience to dance with the tune 'Love Me', introducing it as "a song for lovers."
Very complimentary of Portland, the band mentioned the city during songs and also in between, also becoming involved in back and forth banter with an over-zealous audience member.
After addressing Snow Patrol as "omnipotent, omni-sexy, and omni-hot," regarding their imminent arrival on stage, Augustana's set took a turn for more hard-rocking territory in the final three songs. The band don't embody the proposed excesses of rock and roll in the least, delivering their music with a glossy sheen even in the live atmosphere. It says something when presumably the only fault that can be found in a band is the fact that they are the extreme anti-thesesis of displeasing in every way.
While earlier in the set lead singer Dan Layus had been very Keith Murray-esque-channeling the We are Scientists' front-man not only in coif fringe, but in posturing and demeanor, he carried their set to a very Chris Martin-esque close in front of his piano center stage with 'Boston'.
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