Read "Elephant 6 Rocked Buffalo"

By Elizabeth Raphaelson for SUNY Potsdam's The Racquette:

The Elephant Six has been a name rattling around since early 2008 when it was announced that a collective of members from the bands Neutral Milk Hotel, of Montreal, Elf Power, The Olivia Tremor Control, The Music Tapes and several other bands would be going on an expansive tour across the nation. This collection of stray band members comprised of 14 musicians who worked together to put on the incredible three-hour show at the small venue "The Sound Lab" last Saturday, March 19, in Buffalo.  The show, filled with audience-participation games, fictional stories, and original songs (or the most original interpretation of songs) made the three hours seem more like a circus than a rock show.

The show consisted of the band members helping one another bring songs they had written in their formal bands to life with new twists. Filled with constant surprises (fitting, considering the name is in fact "The Holiday Surprise Tour") the members of the band displayed their musicianship by constantly trading their instruments, very rarely sticking to a single sound. Julian Koster, the musical saw player of Neutral Milk Hotel and The Music Tapes, was the only exception who, in addition to his talent displayed on drums, guitar, bass and banjo, had the monopoly over playing the musical saw. The band was able to mold themselves to whatever feel they wanted by simply switching singers or exchanging instruments.

Halfway through the show Julian Koster inched his way sheepishly to the microphone. He told a story about how in order for spring to come to Buffalo, five people would have to try to "puncture the moon" (a giant tissue paper ring a band member was holding in the audience) with the arm of the giant paper snowman that had appeared during the band's intermission. The fourth volunteer was able to "puncture the moon" and was awarded with the privilege to pick any song (outside their family of bands) for them to learn in the next five minutes. The band worked wonders in the five minutes by learning a Defiance, Ohio song and sounding as if they had practiced it for years.

The line-up of Elephant Six is truly something special. Sporting four electric guitars (one of them a twelve string), a bass, banjo, drums, keyboard, horns, musical saw, violin, tuba and clarinet, the band creates a wall of sound that perfectly blends to fuel the listener with adrenaline while sinking them into a hypnotic trance of contentment.  Elephant Six is a concert and an experience that puts the listener into the world of the band members vibrant imaginations and after three hours keeps everyone asking for more. You can check out Elephant 6 and their Holiday Surprise Tour on Pitchfork.com.