Photo by Brad Meese

Brooklyn psychedelic pop outfit Sky White Tiger paired visual spectacle with soothing, mind-bending melodies for an eye-catching and ear-captivating performance at Adler Planetarium on Thursday, July 15.

As a young rocker just trying to grow up in this crazy world, I spent quite a few hours at the local planetarium taking in laser light shows set to the sounds of such influential bands as Pink Floyd and Nirvana. Adler Planetarium’s Adler After Dark series builds on this premise by having the band you are hearing play live in the room with you.

Sky White Tiger’s spacey tunes, such as “Say You’re The First” and “Returning the Shard” from the band’s 2009 EP, proved to be the perfect complement to the show happening above. Slowly rotating compasses, stationary stars and constantly changing constellations appeared before the audience as each song filled the small, darkened room.

Phot by Brad Meese

The only lights present under the dome were the multi-colored lights that lit the faces of Sky White Tiger leader Louis Schwadron and his backing quartet, who were all dressed in white clothing. However, they remained mostly unseen except for spare moments of moving silhouettes.

While the set was short, roughly 45-minutes long, the experience Sky White Tiger cultivated did not feel rushed. Each song and visual built upon the one that preceded it.

The set concluded with the last constellation morphing into various animals and objects with Schwadron reciting a spoken word verse that lead up to the phrase, “We are Sky White Tiger” as the group’s logo took center spot on the dome above.

The Adler After Dark series is a fun experience whether you are there to see a specific band or just wandering in from a day at the Planetarium. Sky White Tiger and its dreamy, psychedelic soundtrack provided a stunning sensory experience on Thursday, July 15. If only all concerts had such a relaxed atmosphere.

Check out Audrey’s photos from Sky White Tiger at the Adler Planetarium at her Flickr page.