With 2010 debut Gorilla Manor, Local Natives served immediately palatable, but undeniably expansive rock. The Silver Lake fivepiece has pressed its boundaries and challenged its audiences since, a trend that continues on third LP Sunlit Youth. There’s so much to recognize as distinctly Local Natives: the climbing, upper-fret guitar lines punctuating “Past Lives,” the tribal drumming on “Dark Days,” and warm harmonies throughout the album. Even so, the band pushes boundaries with the Eighties-drenched digital beat of “Villainy” and roots-blues licks of “Coins.” Everything we love about Local Natives remains, but they make us work harder for it. (4pm, Honda stage)
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This article appears in September 30 • 2016.

