Show Review: Nation of Language @ Mohawk (10.21)

After the recent release of Dance Called Memory, anticipation for a solid night out (supported by B. Gray’s earlier attendance in SLC) from Nation of Language seemed a guarantee. I got the added bonus of getting to see one of my personal favorites, Deeper, open the night up too!

Check in for some brief words and rad photos!

Deeper did the job of an incredible opening act, delivering a set that leaned into some of the darker corners of post-punk. Their guitar interplay is always a fascinating hook, particularly with the way the angular notes work in contrast against the melody. Nic Gohl’s voice always mesmerizes; I love the way it has a sedate delivery that erupts into a Robert Smith meets David Byrne territory for emphasis. While I didn’t get “This Heat” in the set list, they spent their set offering us tunes from their 2023 Sub Pop debut, Careful…plus a bonus new song. I can’t help but wonder if they were flashier how huge they could be, as they definitely have the songs to be huge.

When Nation of Language took to the stage, there were far fewer Xs on hands than have been apparent at more recent Mohawk shows; this played into my emotions as I sat back and soaked in the night, as the olds seem to be seeking something extra. Maybe it’s the songs, or the global climate, but the band’s sound seemed to play into this eternal search for the little love that’s left in the world. Bodies danced and shook and found space to be free; it was an evening where anything seemed possible, and musically, we celebrated that joyousness, however fleeting it may be.

Performance-wise, they killed it. Ian Devaney is every bit as fascinating as a front-man as Sam from Future Islands, writhing and pulsating and bouncing across the stage; he’s got an added trick too, able to grab the guitar when necessary. I loved how they pulled all the lights off too, save the permanent plug-ins, allowing the stage lighting to control the evening and every synthetic note. If ever there was a time to deliver a night of escapism and catharsis, Nation of Language brought that to Austin..and I feel as if the audience returned the favor.

bgray notes: Deeper was strong as an opener; different but adjacent. I overshot Nation of Language, how can you not? Yes, I get bleary eyed during some songs, had to pause the shimmy in order to shoot during others, but the overwhelming theme of emotions are musical lands. Nation of Language are so damn good.