Touring behind its 2017 release, Whiteout Conditions, The New Pornographers put on a measured and memorable show at Delmar Hall in St. Louis early this week. Whiteout is the first of NP’s seven full-length albums written solely by A.C. Newman, who helms the Canadian outfit.

While a night of resilient, thoughtful power pop was a salve for the day’s (weeks’…months’…) news events, the band’s latest record is far from blissfully ignorant. Exploring themes of identity, depression, and yes, politics, Whiteout Conditions is a synth-soaked, harmonic success that sounds especially present. Same deal with the show last Sunday. The New Pornographers, with a reliably elegant performance, provided its St. Louis audience release and relief.

All photos by Jess Luther:

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