Harlem Shakes at MIT, 4/25

            Blog favorites and future Passion Pit tour-mates Harlem Shakes dropped by MIT this weekend for a little performance outside of Kresge Auditorium as part of WMBR ’s annual Spring Weekend Festival Concert . The conditions were what weathermen, musicians, and students alike would call perfect: sunny with a light breeze flowing through the air, a manageable PA, and a homework-free Saturday. Though the show may have been sparsely attended considering the day’s victories after a long, dreary winter, the Harlem Shakes ran with everything they were given. Dedicating the majority of the set to their debut album, Technicolor Health , the Brooklyn quintet (with a saxophone player in toe) displayed why they’ve got the talent to go beyond the accelerated fifteen minutes of fame granted by the Internet. In a live setting, their songs may have lost some of the lush composition that’s made Technicolor Health one of the best albums of the still-young year, but Harlem Shakes brought some teeth to their performance. Songs such as “Strictly Game” were translated into a fuzz-fueled banger, it’s reggaeton-esq kick drum sealing the deal for a bouncy ditty.

Sure, most of the crowd didn’t let the music spoil a relaxing sit on the grass, but bassist Jose Soegaard did plenty of hopping and hip-shaking for an entire arena. Unfortunately, not everyone in the band was hip to the hop of Jose. Singer Lexy Benaim’s affectionate yelp was certainly in tune and on time, but his stage demeanor was left something to be desired. Maybe the heat from earlier in the day had affected him, but Benaim seem disaffected and - at times - disinterested, and spent his non-performing time on stage crouched closely to the ground with an apathetic appearance on his face even as he sipped from a bottle of water. True, the entire band had a spot on performance, but it’s never a good sign when a performer seems disappointed simply to be in the same state as its audience. However, considering the strength of the entire set, any minute negative aspect was easily looked over when the band launched into that first, euphoric chorus of “Sunlight” and the entire day just seemed to fit into place.

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Harlem Shakes at MIT, 4/25