The Shins ushered in the fall in an evening performance at the Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, Maryland. The opening act, Vetiver, was indie alternative folk-rock. Most of the songs were pretty mellow, but warranted some foot tapping. They kept the set short, and overall were a pleasant opening act. The second group to perform was Spoon, who entered the stage to a dramatic blue backlighting. After a few technical difficulties, their catchy alternative rock songs made for a lively set.

Mid-way through the performance they added an ensemble of horns, creating a fun and interesting sound. The changing monochromatic lighting may have been excessive, but the lead singer’s charm, combined with songs like “I Turn My Camera On,” ultimately made it a successful performance. Fans seemed pretty eager when The Shins finally made it to the stage. They opened with an upbeat song from their new album.

As its tempo picked up, the black backdrop fell away to reveal a large printout of the album’s cover artwork. The crowd went wild. The band performed each song accurately and enthustically, mixing new stuff with the old favorites. The stage was decorated with small glittering lights that emulated the night sky. A combination of changing blue and green lighting effects were used for the song “Sealegs,” evoking the impression of being underwater.

The band gave a charismatic and engaging performance. Their typically innovative arrangements and lyrics made for a delightful experience. The set highlighted the band’s variety and range, between songs with heavy synthesizers, to more tranquil and cerebral songs, to some of their fast-paced favorites. The audience was pumped for the encore, which included some of The Shins’ more popular singles such as “Caring is Creepy.” This show transported the audience to a fantastical world of music.