Would you know what I meant if I said that something resembled a film adaptation of a Bret Easton Ellis novel? Well, last Thursday night, February 10th, Underground Arts resembled a film adaptation of a Bret Easton Ellis novel. The charmingly seedy basement venue, normally the home to punks, metalheads, or hardcore kids doing their own interpretations of moshing, was filled with exceptionally “chilled” hipsters who were well into adulthood, but refusing to embrace it. However, the refusal was far more coolly relaxed than anything bordering on obnoxious.
The scene was fitting for Ernest Greene, crowned “the godfather of chillwave” by Pitchfork, better known as Washed Out. The Georgia-based singer, songwriter, and producer was currently touring behind his fourth LP, Purple Noon, his most accomplished work as a [postmodern] singer/songwriter yet. Joined by longtime bandmates Dylan Lee and Cameron Gardener, Washed Out churned out a deliciously synth-filled 15-song set that featured six of Purple Noon’s 10 tracks, in addition to fan and band favorites from throughout the their four albums, notably including “You And I,” Greene’s collaboration with Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek from Washed Out’s 2011 debut, Within and Without, which proved to be the evening’s highlight just three songs into the set. While the vibe of the evening could be described as “hipster lounge,” by the end of the night a mellow and delightfully lackadaisical dance party had ensued as the band kicked into 2017’s “Get Lost” for their two-song encore.