Don’t be confused by the name. ∆ is a band, but it is actually pronounced “Alt-J.” The band’s name comes from pressing Alt then J on the keyboard of a mac computer. It's pretty hip, I know. 

Formed in 2007, the British indie rock band released their debut album “An Awesome Wave” in May of this year. The album draws upon several genres, creating a funky, experimental rock experience.

“An Awesome Wave” won this year’s Mercury Prize, an award bestowed upon the UK’s best album of the year. Previous nominees include Adele, Florence and the Machine, The xx, and Mumford & Sons.

The album itself has picked up in Los Angeles, with KROQ and other alternative stations playing ∆’s tunes.

The show opened with the "Intro" off “An Awesome Wave,” giving the audience a dark grunge umpth as the curtains rose. The song is a great beginning to the show and also the album, as it samples the multifaceted genres ∆ handles.

It begins with a simple piano line and gains instruments, eventually creating a large cacophony of rhythm which forces one to be taken over by the dirty grunge and umpth of the beat. The body simply rocks in the beginning of a quite awesome wave.  

∆ cycled through their debut album. Each song takes on its own personality. It's as if the music flows through the audience like a wave, with slower songs like "Something Good" leaving the crowd bobbing their head and others like "Dissolve Me," which forced the crowd to jump and thrash at the rhythm. 

"Fitzpleasure" was played halfway through the set, which set the crowd ablaze. The song is most prominently known, at least in Los Angeles, due to KROQ picking it up as a “new music find,” ensuring that it's played frequently and delivered to a new audience. “Fitzpleasure” is similar to “Intro” where the beat is so infectious, the body reacts by gruffly hitting each beat.

The show even had a little treat. “We’re going to play a song basically mixing Dr. Dre with Kylie Minogue,” the lead singer, Joe Newman said. Who knew that the two artists could create such a surreal mash-up.

Linked below, “Slow Dre” plays with the “Still Dre” beat we all know so well with the sexual lyrics of “Slow.” 

The band not only had wild mashups but a variety of guests who appeared on stage, including a gospel choir and a string quartet for the final song of the night, “Taro.”

“Taro” left the crowd with the sad realization that this fluid wave of melodies was coming to an end. 

∆’s show was not the kind of show which leaves the audience feeling riled up or energetic. It left the audience in a warm mood, like catching up with a friend or curling up in a warm blanket. No worries or stress, just a smile left over.

Read more of NT's show reviews here.

Reach Staff Reporter Matthew Del Muro here.