Two Door Cinema Club’s set at the Youtube Theater created a unique, ethereal atmosphere that echoed their 80’s coded discography. Dressed in a tan three-piece suit, lead singer Alex Trimble opened the show with a strange intensity as he rattled off “I Can Talk” and “Undercover Martyn”. The large LED screen behind the group displayed looping CGI renders that could only be described as uncanny. Visuals included an endless line of high-heeled feet stomping out cigarettes, rotating blue heads opening their mouths in unison, and a jagged, icy landscape that was rendered just far enough from any sort of realism to create an unsettling yet intriguing effect.

This tone was carried forth by Trimble’s performance as well. He rarely showed much vulnerability or uncontained emotion as his vibrato cut through the venue, performing almost the entire set without leaving his post at the center of the stage. In fact, as the audience cheered between songs, he clasped his hands behind his back, tilted his chin upward, and regarded the audience with an air of authority. This character portrayal worked in unison with the production design, the synth-heavy musical motifs, and the modern aesthetic of the Youtube Theater to produce a coherent, otherworldly tone, even if it’s not what you might initially expect when listening to Two Door’s music.

Article and Photo Gallery by Pieter Markus