Darkside played Royale – 3/17
Nicolás Jaar and Dave Harrington brought their electro-psych project back to Boston with support from Kalia Vandever.
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Lots of stuff about the 2013 music landscape feels a million miles away presently (AOTY Yeezus? The return of MBV? Sunbather pink artwork controversy? The mere existence of Random Access Memories?), but one artifact of that era that’s stayed fresh in my mind all this time is Psychic, the debut LP teaming up prolific avant-electronic producer Nicolás Jaar and guitarist Dave Harrington as Darkside. The psych-tinged electro-prog art-rock of that record, wrapped up in its shimmering neon-reflective artwork, captured some singular lightning in a bottle that’s made it a frequently-reached-for selection ever since. But even though I was all-in on the record, I got shut out of the subsequent tour for some reason or another when the band played a very sold-out Paradise the following year. That’s one I’d been kicking myself over for a long time.
Thankfully, the project was far from over with. Following a post-Psychic hiatus, Jaar and Harrington came back together for 2021’s Spiral and this February’s Nothing – which also formally welcomed touring drummer Tlacael Esparza as a full-fledged member of the group. The resulting trio alignment lends Nothing a fleshed-out, full-band feel that pushes Harrington’s expressive playing and Jaar’s textured electronics in new directions, underpinned by politically-prescient songwriting arriving at a particularly resonant moment. It’s the best record I’ve heard in 2025, and its supporting St. Patrick’s Day tour date last week at Royale – the band’s first in town since that 2014 show at the ‘Dise – unsurprisingly measured up.
The night opened appropriately with part one of Nothing‘s “Hell Suite,” a patient, wearied sketch of an uneasy world bathed in red during which Jaar compelled, nonetheless, “It’s not too late to stop.” From there the set took flight, touching on all three studio records and beyond as the band wove familiar grooves around exploratory passages that framed Darkside as the premiere jam band for the heady electronic enthusiast. The trio’s mind-meld chemistry shaped the songs into forms simultaneously known and unknown as an arena-ready light show cast them in rainbows, silhouettes and starbursts. And even as the set stretched toward two hours, I could’ve listened to them go for plenty more. Ideally, it won’t be another decade before I have the chance again.
Check out photos from the night below, including a lovely opening solo set from trombonist Kalia Vandever, below.
