Fresh off their first national tour with Ra Ra Riot, our friends from Louisiana, Givers, hit New York City to cap off their fall travels.

With an ambitious number of instruments joining the six members on stage, including multiple drum sets, rows of guitars, keyboards, and a ukulele, Givers bombarded Mercury Lounge with energy not unlike a punch to the face. They completely blew my mind, personifying the elation in their wild, psychedelic, afro-pop rock sound.

Their solid harmonies and complex rhythmic patterns are perfectly polished and impressively in synch with one another, and their calypso beats encourage you to dance like you never thought you would in public. I would almost feel bad for Teddy Lamson’s drum set with how passionately she pounded on it, but it sounded far too amazing. Towards the end, she actually shattered a tambourine by smashing it on her set.  It was a beautiful thing.

You are hard pressed to find genuinely joyful music in the world as of late, so there is no question that any time Givers end up playing in your area, you ought to get there and join in the fun!

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Photos taken at Knitting Factory Brooklyn