The War On Drugs

Gotta say that the Dell Center is a great venue to see a show. Small uncovered amphitheater, with terrific sound and ambiance. First time seeing this band live--and they did not disappoint. Tight, technically perfect--both instrumentally and vocally--songs performed very much like the album versions with a nice little nugget cover of Zevon's Accidentally Like a Martyr. One little nitpick is that the frontman, Adam Granduciel, doesn't engage much with the audience (at least at this particular show). Aside from a few 'thank-you's' and 'how's everybody doing,' he doesn't seem to relate to the crowd he's playing to. Wudda been nice to hear some stories, talk and see his real personality and not just a stiff stage persona. As I said though, just a minor niggle, the hour and a half show was well worth the price of admission!

Excellent show at the Ritz in Ybor by The War on Drugs. Seeing an increasingly popular band as they ascend from obscurity to stardom in a small club with great sound and lighting is the best. Obvious influences like Dylan, Springsteen, Dire Straights, Don Henley "Boys of Summer", and others have been expertly woven into a new fabric by front man and songwriter Adam Granduciel. The drummer deserves a medal for playing like a drum machine and looking like he was enjoying himself. My favorite tonal coloring and shading was by the baritone sax player/keyboardist. Nice work!

It was an experience! War on Drugs was everything and more than I expected. All of the members of the band were exceptionally good. Fun evening!

It was a great show. They did a good job being quick about the encore, which in my opinion is the worst part of shows nowadays. Apart from their catchier tunes I lost interest maybe 40 mins in, but they have such a crafted sound that it's pretty natural to sort of "come out of it" after listening for so long.

I didn't know anything about this band before going to see them and decided last minute to join a friend and his wife. I wasn't too impressed by this band. The music just seemed to laid back and the show lacked energy. We kepted getting closer to the stage as the show went on because some people were leaving before the show was over. My friend enjoyed the band, but I wouldn't recommend anyone going seeing this group.

War on Drugs sounded amazing live, i am always blown away when a band sounds exactly how i hear on the radio. They have a lot of energy and very personable speaking to us in between sets. His voice and everyones ability to play made me fall in love!

The show started at 9 which is normally fine, but there were two openers, the second one, a band called Teen, was really awful. The War on Drugs didn't take the stage until 11:30 and the show wasn't over until after 1 AM. Their music was great but it was too late for me to enjoy it, I just wanted to go home and sleep.

The band was exceptional. Extremely engaging and entertaining lead singer. All very talented musicians. There was not a bad song in the set.

It was fantastic, but starting at 11:15 on a Thursday night?? I had to leave after the 5th song to catch the last train out of town. ... at least they played my favorite tune right after the opening! Glad I didn't miss it!

This was my first time seeing The War on Drugs and also my first time at the Tower Theater. This venue is amazing; so much history, great acoustics, and very large yet not too big. The band was equally great. I did expect them to play a bit longer (maybe a second encore) as this was a homecoming show for them. The overall vibe of the band is a mostly mellow, yet driving groove. I thought the drummer seemed a bit out of place since he was much more animated and turned up a few notches over the rest of the group, however, he received the loudest applause at the end of the show, so what do I know? :-) My girlfriend and I travelled from Pittsburgh for this show and the remaining weekend and it did not disappoint! Opening band from Toronto, The Weather Station, was quite good as well.

Waited for a month and a half for this show. Was super excited to see these guys. They did not disappoint! Wow! A great show. A great set list. They played close to two hours. Felt the sound was a bit muddy but I think it was the venue. High points were the opening song.."Under the Pressure, Ocean between the waves and Red Eyes. GO SEE THESE GUYS IF YOU GET A CHANCE!

By far one of the best concerts I've ever been to, TWOD slayed this show. The music was fantastic but the light show and the stage setting was really cool too. Glad to see the hometown boys sell out the Tower, great vibe. The crowd was a good mix, from 20somethings to people in their 60s, it was just a all around great time!

I first saw the War on Drugs at the Pickathon near Portland, Oregon, in August 2014, and was impressed with them. Then I bought their new CD Lost in the Dream, and it became my favorite. They have a new musical sound that has influences of other styles like New Wave. They have three good guitar players, including lead guitarist and singer Adam, plus a solid drummer, distinct keyboard player and electronics, and unique saxaphone player. They put on a great show at the historic Fillmore. It was a full house and the place was rocking. Check out their videos on youtube.com, especially the concert in Holland in Summer 2014.

White Laces were a surprise, good surprise War on Drugs were magnificent!!

Loved them! Great sound, great vocals. Def worth checking out!!!!!!! The openers were awesome too!!

I have followed this band for some time . An incredible performance put on by the band in Atlanta . Hoping for a live album at some point. I was so fortunate to see them.

Their tight, full sound is great for the EXPRESS LIVE! venue. Thought they connected with the audience better this time around (vs. their '15 tour). Great new album but felt like they really brought it during "Under the Pressure". Very talented musicians.

best concert I ve ever attended. Great venue and War on Drugs was unbelievable

Unbelievable band, a lesson on how to play your instruments

I love War on Drugs and will go anywhere to see them. Their shows never disappoint and they are outstanding musicians. Can t wait to see them again.

Having been a fan of the band since Slave Ambient I was excited to know they would finally be in my area performing.There is not enough words to express my experience seeing them perform live. Listening to this bands music moves you in makes you feel several emotions all at once. This concert is a staple of what bands should strive to be when playing live, perfectly executed yet smooth and natural. The crowd was enjoying this as much as I was, so I know I was not the only one thinking this. I probably only blinked 2 times during the whole concert was in shock and had chills throughout. I think I might of even shed a tear when they played Eyes To The Wind not sure if it was the emotion or shear amazement I was in never witnessing such a beautiful thing in my life. A great touch was the Bob Dylan encore they played. MUST SEE!

The War On Drugs is beyond amazing. My only regret is the sound system. I saw them in Madison at a small club a couple of years ago, and the sound was much better. They should run to Tom Petty's sound manager and hire him/her. As for the band itself, their newest CD is incredible. My wife and I never thought they could beat "Lost In A Dream," but this music is even better. They'll be in stadiums the next time around. I suggest you see them now.

I was so eager to see The War On Drugs. They are one of the most amazing and creative bands to appear in the past decade. Unfortunately, the acoustics in the Moore Theater and the incompetent sound mixing made the concert a complete disappointment. The opening band - Phoebe Bridgers sounded good, a bit understated, but good. However, once The War on Drugs took the stage, the sound crew just cranked the volume until the echo and reverb turned the entire show into a mess. The sound was awful and unintelligible, and we left before they finished their set. I want my money back and will not attend another show at the Moore.

It was a great show at a great venue. The War On Drugs dazzled me with their superb musicianship. It was a wonderful bonus to hear them play my favorite Bob Dylan song (Tangled Up in Blue) as an encore. I enjoy their original music as well as anytime they cover a classic song like that one. Thank you guys!!!

The band was mesmerizing from beginning to end. A 10 out of 10 show.

Great performers Tight musical performance Venue had GREAT sound management

Decor and lighting were great! Show was very good!

Hands down the best live show I've seen in ages. They sound every bit as good live as on their cd. They totally rock!

I love the first three albums of the war on drugs. They all receive a ton of play in my house. Show started off great. Sound was full and relatively clear. Then song two launched with three people playing synthesizers. I couldn t hear the drummer even though I could see him clearly playing. For the next hour and a half most of the songs sounded like a bunch of noise. The encore was much better because the synthesizers took a rest and the music cleared up. My experience could have been related to my seats, which I don t think any music show should be at The Moore. What band that jams would ever want to play in front of an entire crowd sitting down? I should have left my seat to see if the sound was any better in another spot but I didn t. Needless to say, I will avoid shows at the Moore and probably don t need to see The War on Drugs in concert again.

Amazing setting to see such an excellent band. Great light show that fit with the music.

Greek theatre Berkeley is a fantastic venue, sound was great (wish it could have been louder, and gone on later). Adam and his band mates plaid beautifully and the Neil Young cover they plaid as encore sounded just like Neil. Loved every bit of it.

Had been waiting to see these guys live for awhile and this show did not disappoint. Crowd and environment couldn t have been better either.

War on Drugs band played beautifully despite multiple technical difficulties (fire the roadie!) with Adam Granduciel's guitar pedals. He became frustrated during the third malfunction and shouted "What the fuck is going on?!, but jammed on with class and passion. The sound was a bit unbalanced at times which I thought wouldn't be the case since it was WOD's second night at the Greek Theater. However, the music was ethereally beautiful and made my spirit soar. I didn't realize Granduciel used to live in Berkeley (right near where I live!). ! I'm more a fan of WOD's upbeat songs and half the concert was SUPER mellow but I loved the experience and would definitely go see them next time around.

Excellent band and concert. Even though I m a bit rundown at the moment still the best band around now

The Greek Theater is a legendary venue, would highly recommend. I actually love The War on Drugs' music and was excited to see them, but that was one of the most underwhelming live shows I have ever seen at a major venue. No stage presence at all. When there was a sound issue with the guitar, they played a drum loop and then the entire rest of the band just sat there... even a high school band would take that opportunity to show off a cool jam they have been working on, do a solo, anything! It was embarrassing... Also, the singer/lead guitarist does not know how to solo. There were so many guitar solos in the set, and every single one was a weak canned performance of the main melody. Dude. If you can't solo, don't play lead guitar. Hire someone else. Also if you are going to keep with the wall of sound thing, at least turn up the guitar for the solos so that it stands out. I love rock and alternative but would tell anyone to avoid seeing this band but to listen to their album Lost in the Dream, which is a masterpiece.

go see the war on drugs. you won't regret it. "but don't take my word for it" - Lavar Burton.

I saw Granduciel two years back. He was so great but something was incomplete in that show. This time was the full deal. He rocked our socks off and had more to spare. Unfortunately time constraints were his only limit. I wish he could have played more.

Seen them 5 times now, definitely the best show yet!

War on Drugs played for about two hours and their music was gorgeous. They played many of the better known songs including nearly all from the new album and a lot from older albums. Their sound on record is very clear and precise, and, remarkably, this was also true in the live concert. There were 6 musicians on stage including two keyboards (one who also plays sax) and you could hear them all very clearly. If you like their albums, you will like their live show because it sounds very similar. And given the intricacy of their music, with all the flowing parts, this is no small achievement. They aren't terribly engaging with the crowd, often looking at each other or with their backs to the crowd. But it wasn't disrespectful or anything like that, it almost seems like they're shy. The lighting show was stunning, going for visual elegance rather than typical rock pomp. All in all a wonderful show, we loved it.

The night was perfect at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion. Even though this band is relatively new and only has two albums to it's credit thus far, they made it seem as if they were a band that has been around for a long time. They did "Under the pressure" as well as other hits from their first album as well as the new songs from "A deeper understanding". Up all night was great. I really enjoy Adam Granduceil's guitar playing. He plays just the right amount of notes to compliment the band and the song. I look forward to seeing them again next season.

This was my second time seeing them. They were awesome both times!

Great show great venue and a good cause. Connor Barwins charity make the world better.

War on Drugs are always phenomenal live, but Thursday at the Dell Music Center was something else!! What a cool venue, besides the long drink lines, it's a very quaint and super cool outdoor venue. All the staff were beyond friendly, and with the forest backdrop and lighting effects, it created a surreal atmosphere. Would definitely go back and will see WoD anytime they play in the area.

Awesome concert and cool venue!! Wonderful tailgate spot!

War on Drugs is a great band to see!! This is my second time seeing them and they give an amazing show. Dell Music Center is a beautiful and absolutely clean outdoor venue. I have never been to a venue so clean! I would definitely highly recommend the band War on Drugs and the Dell Music Center.

Awesome! These guys are great live, such a good band. Recommend 100%

The band was outstanding as always, manipulating the tempo of the show with a mix of rockers and mellow tunes. The baritone sax was a show stealer, adding another dimension to the live setting. The show was the first rock concert at the Dell Center, so I will forgive the kinks that need to be worked out. The acoustics were great and the comfortable weather made it an outstanding event. I d go again in a heartbeat.

Maybe they were getting their sea legs on but the band didn't sign albums or do an encore. The sound in the pit was awful. 2 seconds after the show the staff was yelling at us to get out. Lack luster after prepping for this two day trip. I do love Portland and The War on Drugs still though.

Great show and performance on the opener for their tour.

War On Drugs is an incredible group--among the finest bands to come on the scene in the past two decades. This was a pop-up (secret) concert that was announced with less than 48 hours notice and totally sold out. Whether we are speaking about musicianship, composition, the poetry of the lyrics (which are on the level of Springsteen or Dylan), these guys are just plain off the charts. Adam Granducile is a phenomenal composer and lyricist and the band he has put together are completely worthy of him. But . . .I was grossly disappointed in the venue--Radio City and whoever is in charge of the sound mixing. The acoustics are apparently terrible there. To make up for that they turned up the decibel level to a point where even with ear plugs I was in pain listening. In addition even with the volume so far up the music was "blurry" and the words indiscernible. We left early. The experience was very unlike that of Father's day 2014 at Northside in Brooklyn.

I've seen in a long time. Well worth it. Sold out Radio City Music Hall, no surprise.

Amazing venue. Nice band, singer should put more effort.

Great music, no interaction with audience. No song intros or even a Hello, NY.

One of the best guitarists in a generation. Adam Granduciel has an astounding command of the music - from conception to studio to concert. This band is all about delivering the music - and you get a concert like the E Street Band.

Great show. I've been to see my favorite bands at this theater before and been disappointed with the sound. War on Drugs sounded amazing and the show was awesome. I actually wasn't looking forward to much to this show as I thought I would be disappointed...but was pleasantly surprised . Left with the show on that natural high you get from seeing good music live. Would definitely go see them again anywhere.

Great show, very trippy lighting & stage presence. The lead guitarist/singer at times sounded like Neil Young and at other times was in another world.

Fantastic show! As good as they are on record, they are even better live. Hard to put into words. One of those shows you simply must experience.

Beautiful, atmospheric music. Creative, psychedelic light show.

Better live than on the albums! One of the best shows I've seen.

Great show, wish Adam's guitar was turned up more and/or turn down bass in rhythm section. Haven't been to Norva in awhile, was hoping to view the show from second level but it was blocked off.

I saw CSNY in 74, McCartney in 76, REM in 81, Dylan, Petty, Browne, Costello, Springsteen, Wilco, all too many times to count. This was one of, if not, the very best show I've ever seen. So glad I saw this band just as they are about to go stratospheric. Loved it!

Great set list, great sound and really meet all my expectation, what amazing local band. way to rock the tower theater .

Great performance! Love the band's sound and the staging/lighting was also very good. Looking forward to them heading to bigger and better things and will definitely see them again.

Great show, band coming into its own as a must-see show.

Bob Dylan if he was in his prime in the late 80s in a dreamlike state of awesome

This band is gonna be another cult followed jam band a la Dave Matthews...but the sound is much more glorious 70's-like rock-n-roll. The lead singer's guitar playing is sent from heaven.

I really love the albums and I was surprised that most of the songs turned into wall of noise with a long shredding guitar solos. Still love the records. Not sure if I'll be racing back to their shows though.

Adam's guitar was way too loud and overpowered all of the other members of the band. Overall, more of the band and less Adam - both in volume and in focus - would make this band a lot more enjoyable to see live. The albums are mixed with a much better representation of all players. The singer needs to let go of his ego and realize that he's not as great to listen to playing the same way on every song and overpowering the rest of the group. The guitar solos and vocals sound the same on every song making it a bit mundane. Having the band do solos or take up more of the sound would provide better variety. It lacked proper balance and made my ear drums hurt. Definitely should have brought earplugs to this one.

Great, great show! Channeling Springsteen and making everyone's knees weak. I love you Adam!