One of the acts I’d been looking forward to all weekend at Life Is Beautiful was singer Merrill Garbus, a New England native also known as Tune-Yards, whose music fuses African and electronic themes into flourishing, incongruous dance pop. Known for her live looping and percussion, Garbus graced the Ambassador Stage at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday, donning a neon fuchsia onesie and a gold hat, supported by two backup singers, a drummer and a bassist.
“How y’all doin’?” Garbus said to the moderately sized crowd. Considering how unique and unconventional her act is, the turnout was actually surprising. “Alive after this weekend? You look pretty good!”
Garbus kicked off the set with “Sink-O” from this year’s Nikki Nack, shout-singing “Peace! Peace and love!” and beating floor toms with increasing intensity. “If I went up to your door/You wouldn't let me in/So don't say you don't judge by the color of skin,” she sang, as the backup dancers moved to the front of the stage, dancing and shimmying while the bass weaved in and out of every beat created by Garbus’ vocal chords.
And we got more Nikki Nack tracks, including the ’60s girl group-influenced “Real Thing,” “Wait For a Minute,” “Stop That Man” and single, “Water Fountain.” But the best part of the show was hearing Whokill favorites “Gangsta” and “Bizness,” the latter accompanied by Garbus’ ukulele with an infectious, tropical rhythm.
Life Is Beautiful
“Thank y’all so much for sticking around,” Garbus said, “I was so sick before the show, and then I realized how amazing it is to perform in front of people. I might poop my pants when I walk off stage, but for now I’m okay.”
Tune-Yards blended analog and digital perfectly. From that jazzy, dirty bass to those subtle, synthy blips, the electronics never overwhelmed the live percussion, allowing every intricate sound to melt together in a worldly fusion. Add Garbus’ howling vocals and Tune-Yards’ was easily one of the most interesting gets of the entire festival.
