What two acts go better together than penguins and snow? Terminal 5 became that igloo Wednesday night at Swedish indie pop group Miike Snow brought their Happy To You tour to New York along with recently-opening-for-everyone Brooklyn-based Penguin Prison. I’ve put a tail on penguins a couple times in recent months and just saw Miike Snow at Coachella, so I was excited to see them both perform longer sets. Sadly I missed the penguins, but I did get snowed.
Miike Snow’s just cool. A very masculine show end to end. The stage was reminiscent of a space ship control room, or perhaps a joker’s lair even though I don’t know what that means. I say that because they opened with “Enter the Jokers Lair.” If that was the intent, apparently there are lots of strobe lights in that lair. Up next was their latest single, “The Wave.” Others off the new album included “Bavarian #1 (Say You Will),” “Pretender” and best song title, “God Help This Divorce.” But it was their main set closer that I loved most, “Devil’s Work.” Something about a piano in a rock song that makes me happy.
I admit Miike Snow has grown on me with the new record, and it’s made me appreciate their first album more. “Silvia” really is a great song, as is “Black and Blue” and “Burial.” Other highlights were recent single “Paddling Out” and their best known hit “Animal.” Hmm. Paddling animals. Made me think of penguins.
