Superorganism and guest Yuno delivered vibrant performances at the Imperial last night (August 31) that belied their limited experience as live musicians. Superorganism played their debut show in October of 2017. Before touring the US with Twin Shadow last spring, Yuno (Carlton Joseph Moodie) hadn’t performed onstage since high school. He didn’t even meet his bandmates until the first time they practiced together.

Yuno ditches songs in progress if they begin sounding too similar to other artists. His discerning process has paid off: Although misty yet snappy songs like “Grapefruit” wafted by in a late summer haze, and he’s so emotionally naked, he’s been called emo in spirit, he didn’t sound like anyone else, except vocally. His voice recalled Animal Collective, but no one in Animal Collective has ever soared like Yuno. He has also been called bedroom pop. The term is flimsy as it is, but Yuno far transcended it; no ceiling could have capped the heights he reached on “Why For” or “Galapagos”.

Like the theme song of a sitcom or YouTube series, Superorganism filed onstage to the tune of “SPRORGNSM”. Their name appeared all over the accompanying video sequence. They waved glowing orbs and clinked triangles before the song surged into its full Technicolor pop splendour. One member seemed to have been missing, but even as a seven-piece, Superorganism were surprisingly loud. The bass levels in particular were palpable from the back of the room. Amongst the band’s immersive polyphony, lead singer Orono Noguchi was the only nonchalant factor. “Every one of you. Think about how awesome Vancouver is. Think about your favourite restaurant,” she flatly suggested when hyping the crowd.

Superorganism by Leslie Chu

Superorganism continued showing their humour and playfulness when Noguchi picked up a guitar and considered performing a song by herself as the rest of the band took a break offstage. But she held a Q&A for more than two minutes instead. Questions ranged from “What’s your favourite treat?” (Hershey’s Kisses and Twix) and “Have you ever been in love?” “You shouldn’t ask that question to a stranger,” she replied, again, flatly. “Does that mean yes?” “Yes. But now I’m triggered, and I don’t know what to say to that.” She didn’t play a song, but the band rejoined her for “The Prawn Song” and two encores, “Relax” and “Something for Your M.I.N.D.”, their debut song that started it all for them, when Frank Ocean and Ezra Koenig played it on their Apple Music radio shows.

With extravagant lights and background visuals – which the band designed and coordinated – rainbow colours, reflective face paint, psych-pop sensibility, feel-good vibes, and sheer number of bodies onstage, Superorganism’s potential to deliver a spectacle the size of the Flaming Lips’ festival-within-a-set productions was undeniable. Superorganism made their live debut at Village Underground, a 600-capacity venue in London, England, where they are headquartered. And the 500-plus-capacity Imperial looked sold out. All that is to say, streamers, confetti, absurdist props, and Noguchi rolling over fans from within a human hamster ball might not be far in Superorganism’s future.

review by Leslie Chu