AOTW: Givers - "Givers" (EP)

Until last night, there have been exactly three occasions where I've thought to myself, "If the headliner is even half as good as the opener, this has a chance to be the best concert I've ever been to." The Get Up Kids opening for Green Day back in 2001 was the first time it happened. In 2003, Sondre Lerche got up on stage with only his guitar and silenced an entire room of people waiting to see Jason Mraz and Liz Phair. You could actually hear the conversational din transform into complete attention as he moved through his set. And most recently, Megafaun opening (on separate occasions) for St. Vincent and Dodos created an energy that (luckily) both bands were able to match.

After last night, I can move that number up to four: Lafayette, LA's Givers displayed an energy, stage presence, musical ability, and excitement that belies their youth. The band, on tour for the first time and with only a self-titled EP to their name, brought the crowd to a frenzy in a short 30 minute set, and I know I wasn't the only one still talking about them after the Dirty Projectors' incredible performance.

Co-lead singers Taylor Guarisco (guitar) and Tif Lamson (guitar, percussion, glockenspiel, insanity) complement each other both vocally and emotionally, as one person's mania is easily trasferrable to the other. They owned the stage as well as or better than any seasoned group I've seen this year, and as Ron Jaworski would say about Brett Favre, "They're just having fun out there!" At only 4 songs (plus one bonus remix of "Up Up Up"), Givers EP is a great introduction to a band whose full-length LP should garner a lot of attention (especially from people lucky enough to catch them live).

There's nothing quite like the feeling of watching a band you know nothing about completely and convincingly take over a room with their excitement and love of making music. It's times like these that I'm glad I have a compulsive need to be on time!

Photo via [Science Killer]