From the moment the Mowgli’s appeared on stage last Tuesday, it was clear their performance would be different than most that grace the Jefferson’s stage. Michael Vincze, shoeless and perpetually hidden by a drape of gold curly hair, engaged the audience almost immediately in a meditation session. The audience indulged in his orders to close our eyes and emit a guttural scream dismissing all trapped negativity.
Though sometimes vague in their intentions, other lead members interjected occasionally, not just to burn and waft incense into the crowd but also to reflect deeply on beliefs about “love” and “giving back.” Dave Appelbaum, a lead vocalist for the Mowgli’s even took the opportunity to make a personal confession, “I fall in love too fast and I know I’m not the only one who feels this way,” he said, almost expecting a crowd-member to shout out in agreement.
The Mowgli’s, an eight-person alternative rock band from California, came to Charlottesville as part of their Random Acts of Kindness World Tour. The concert doubled as a benefit for the Blue Ridge Area Food bank, collecting canned food from patrons at the door.
After rather unremarkable sets from openers X Ambassador and Royal Teeth, the Mowgli’s emerged with their quirky spirituality. “San Francisco,” their most popular track, makes reference to this impassioned spiritual journey on behalf of kindness and love, one that the group seems to have been following since its beginning. The short song is beautifully catchy and joyful in recording, but it was perfect live — the sound drawing not only from each musician’s instrument and voice but also from nearly every voice in the crowd.
The Mowgli’s are all talented singers and brilliant live, a rarity especially for a larger band. “Yeah the heart that beats as one,” the Mowgli’s and the crowd sang. “It’s collectively unconsciously composed.” However sappy, their message is one that is difficult to decry.
Every Mowgli’s song was successful in keeping with this these themes of love, positivity and the belief that everyone can make a difference in the world. Their passion for the positive borders heavily on quixotic. Each band member refers to one another as a “Mowgli,” and watching the eight of them perform I got an odd sense that they are part of a strange intermarried cult. But if Beyoncé can be Sasha Fierce on stage and Shawn Carter can be JAY Z, they can be the Mowgli’s and “feel the love” when they want to. It works for me.
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