PHOTOS: Amen Dunes @ Terminal West - ATL

Damon McMahon brought his continuously evolving project Amen Dunes back to Atlanta for the first time since 2014, playing to an enthusiastic crowd at Terminal West. For Atlanta fans, not only was the wait long, but armed with what is his most successful album yet, 2018’s Freedom (via Sacred Bones), this was set to be a memorable show.

PHOTOS: Arthur @ Terminal West - ATL - 1/23/19

Wednesday night in Atlanta didn’t start off so hot. The drive to the venue was during a torrential downpour that was flooding streets. Not the time you want to be driving in this city. But that didn’t stop the excitement for this show. The plenty of fans that showed up early were treated to an energetic set from opener Arthur, really opening some eyes to new fans in the crowd. Arthur, from outside of Philly, released their debut album Woof Woof in November via PLZ Make It Ruins. The experimental pop band had the Atlanta crowd somewhere between a mosh pit and communal dancing as the band jammed out while blurring genre lines.

PHOTOS: Amen Dunes @ Terminal West - ATL - 1/23/19

If you let the rain keep you from this show, you should be kicking yourself for missing Amen Dunes’ set. Amen Dunes lit up the room behind the new album Freedom which seemingly landed on any respectable year end list for 2018. Singles like “Blue Rose”, “Miki Dora”, and especially “Believe” came alive with their bigger bolder sound in Terminal West. There is an effortless restraint in Amen Dunes’ music that gives you just enough to suck you in, but leaves you wanting even more. Damon McMahon follows that same path onstage – never quite going off completely or losing control, pulling back just as you think he will, and leaving the mesmerized audience wanting even more. Damon and the band had the Atlanta crowd completely in line with the emotional pull of the new songs, making for one hell of a start to 2019 live music. Wow.

Check out photos from the show at Terminal West by Mike Gerry:

Arthur