President Barack Obama wasn’t the only one on television last night trying to appeal to a greater sense of hope and humanity. Los Angeles indie rockers Local Natives were the musical guests Wednesday night on Conan, where they performed “Fountain of Youth,” a yearning and carefree track off upcoming album Sunlit Youth.
“Early on while we were working on the record, this song became something of a rallying cry for us, a call to keep us accountable to following our true inspirations and desires,” said the band on their Facebook page. In a time of cynicism dressed as realism, when it feels like the world might be falling apart around us, I believe there is reason to be hopeful, optimistic, and idealistic. Socially, politically, and personally we’ve felt many defeats, but have come back to the realization that this is our world to make. Consider the many victories, small and large that have been going on around us these last couple of years. There’s a lot left to do, but we should feel hopeful that we are the ones who can do it, and we can do whatever we want.”
The words “Make America afraid again” were scrawled across Taylor Rice’s guitar during the late-night performance, which according to a press release, were in criticism of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Guitarist Ryan Hahn also looks like he added something by his Bigsby and doodled on the pickguard of his Gretsch Electromatic, but we can’t make it out!? (Any guesses out there?)