Know Your Opener: Washed Out & Midnight Magic

Chillwave artists seem to be all growns up these days. The genre, which may or may not have been coined by fellow music blogger Carles of Hipster Runoff back in 2009, has been characterized by hazy, filtered vocals, electronic melodies, and of course, more synths than you know what to do with. The three acts carrying torch for the young genre these days are Toro Y Moi, Neon Indian, and Washed Out, all of whom recently released albums that should shed some of the chill wavers sceptics who think the genre is a passing fad.

Beginning with Toro Y Moi, Chaz Budnick and crew came on to the scene in 2009 with Causers of This, an album of dreamy, mellow electro pop. These days though, Budnick seems to have gotten his inner funk on with the follow up Underneath the Pine. Next is Neon Indian. Led by front man Alan Palamo, the group has gone from dance ready synth and sample heavy songs on his debut Psychic Chasms to a lush, romantic feel on the just released Era Extrana. Finally, Washed Out, whose 2011 release Within and Without was not the out of left field follow up like fellow chill waver Toro Y Moi, but rather a polished, fully realized vision of the groups sound that was only touched on their Life of Leisure EP. The group's seductive dream pop, with lead singer Earnest Green, will open for Aussie dance rockers Cut Copy tonight at Town Ballroom.

Also opening tonight will be Brooklyn's Midnight Magic. Made up of former members of indie dance act Hercules & the Love Affair, the nine piece group combines electronics with disco and funk, sure to get even the most heavy toed concert goer, including yours truly, moving. Led by the strong, yet soulful vocals of Tiffany Roth, Midnight Magic is the perfect place setter for what will surely be one of the better shows to come through Buffalo this year.

Washed Out and Midnight Magic will open for Cut Copy tonight. Music begins at 8:00pm.

Washed Out, "Amor Fati" by The FADER

What The Eyes Can't See by Midnight Magic