Prior to Handsome Furs taking the stage, the Echoplex’s ambient soundtrack was composed of precisely the kind of early ’90s anonymous Euro techno that keyboardist and percussionist Alexei Perry states informed much of the electronics on their recent album Face Control. Listened to with modern ears, it sounds like straight-up cheese, but when you imagine it distilled down to its basic elements and then mixed with some relatively straight forward rock songwriting, it comes out sounding pretty much exactly like Handsome Furs and you begin to understand the appeal of these kinds of processed beats and bloops for a band so concerned with moving the body, and by extension hopefully, the heart.

The fact that Perry and bandmate Dan Boeckner are married is inescapably part of the appeal of seeing this band live. The two project such a palpably strong emotional connection onstage that it shimmers down over the audience until you begin to feel some small part of it yourself. You get the impression that offstage, it’s them against the world…but onstage, it’s them AND us against the world. Rather than feeling uncomfortably voyeuristic, as though you were spying on a personal moment between two lovers, it feels like they are inviting you to share the personal moment with them. Though the first song was plagued with some nagging sound issues, by the second, the band (and the sound guy) had hit their stride. Boeckner performs as though standing on an electrified plate, exuding the sort of focus and energy you would expect from a guitarist with far more onstage competition. Which is not to say the competition he has isn’t formidable. Alexei Perry seemed on the verge of explosion throughout the show, eyes wide and wild, teeth literally gnashing…but, you know, in a very happy way. Bending at a 45 degree angle over her keyboard and drum machine, stomping, jumping, kicking and rocking back and forth as though she was standing on a dragon swing, it was impossible to decide which one of them to watch at any given moment.

At one point, some underwear was even tossed onstage, narrowly missing Boeckner, who took it with characteristic good humor, hanging it from his mic stand for a while before tossing it back into the crowd. Later, a guy got onstage and danced briefly, nimbly evading the best efforts of the stagehand to remove him. Far from being annoyed by any of these audience shenanigans, Boeckner and Perry seemed completely amused and honored. The good vibes were definitely flowing.

The moment that best encapsulates the unique appeal of this band came early in the set. Perry had confessed to a certain trepidation about performing in Los Angeles due to the city’s rumored “seen-it-all” attitude. After one of the songs ended, she asked, “Why am I so scared?” Boeckner walked over, pulled her head to his…they touched faces, perhaps a word or two was whispered, but immediately they returned to the show, both of them seemingly rejuvenated by this brief contact. The crowd shouted their support and it seemed like everyone felt at least a bit of what had passed between them. Even Boeckner took some time before their final song to warmly tell the crowd that the night had felt almost magical to him and to thank everyone for being a part of that. It felt honest and touching and really fucking sincere. And by the end of their last song, people were dancing like I hadn’t seen at a rock show in years. Handsome Furs love each other, love their fans, and love their music. And the fact that you really feel that while watching them is a testament to their power.

—Tom Child