Written by Greg Ackerman Photos by James ATX
It is a testament to the strength of their fan base that Typhoon nearly sold-out The Mohawk on a frigid, windy Tuesday evening at the beginning of the month (we’ve been thawing out since). The Portland-based act is touring in support of their first record in four years, Offerings. The concept album has been well-received and thankfully so for the group which spent the better part of the gap between records developing and recording the record.
Front man, Kyle Morton quipped, “Welcome to Portland!” in reference to the unusually cold weather shortly after taking the stage. As one might expect of an orchestral-pop, post-rock band, the group toured with a standard set list, altering it slightly on occasion. The Austin stop led with “Common Sentiments” to a rapt audience who let loose when “Rorschach” made an appearance soon after.
Midway through the performance, Morton stopped the show to allow a couple a moment to get engaged to be married to cheers from fans. The moment of good cheer and humor served Typhoon well. Their new record explores weighty themes as the music mirrors the levity of the songs. Beautiful music made by an experienced, tightly-knit unit of crack musicians. Dual drum kits and a violin add enough unique instrumentation to set the group apart from similar acts. The show had the air of a symphony performance in its elegance.
Other set highlights include, “The Lake”, “Wake” and encore, “Young Fathers.” Typhoon is that rare act that just as impressive live as they are in the studio.
Typhoon sold-out recent stops in San Francisco and Seattle. The group return to Portland for a European tour send-off and a quick stop in Vancouver before heading across The Pond.
