As I stood outside of Echostage in Washington, D.C., just after 7 p.m., I could tell I was in line for a Tame Impala concert. The crowd was varied, with both older and younger people waiting for a great concert. IDs were pulled out for those who wanted to drink and the line moved steadily as I finally entered the venue, passing the merchandise table and heading to the middle of the floor to await for the opening act, Kuroma.

Kuroma, a band with ties to the well-known band MGMT, came onstage to a delighted crowd. The band’s logo lit up the backscreen as they ripped through songs off their newest record “Kuromamara.” Having never heard of the band, I was definitely impressed by their live act. They were a perfect opener for Tame Impala, as they had a nice 60s vibe going on and their music made me want to groove and dance. The lead guitarist dedicated the song “Simon’s in the Jungle” to his wife, and the crowd cheered the band on after every song.

After a quick set of about ten songs, lead singer Hank Sullivant thanked the crowd and the band walked off stage. The crowd cheered as Tame Impala’s roadies, dressed in lab coats, came on stage to set up and tune instruments. Smoke filled the air, drinks were downed and anticipation built for the main act of the night.

The crowd, now packing out the venue, pushed together as Tame Impala took the stage. The band kicked off their almost two-hour set with “Let it Happen,” a lengthy psych-pop dance number off of their yet-to-be-released third album, “Currents.” As they roared through their set list, playing songs off all three of their albums, the multiple screens around and behind the band lit up with dazzling, trippy designs and effects.

Front-man Kevin Parker, who produces Tame Impala’s records and also plays all the instruments on the albums, thanked the crowd, continuously, commenting that they were perhaps the rowdiest crowd of Tame Impala’s spring tour, so far, as a fan crowd-surfed near the stage. This was fitting as D.C. was the last stop on their headline tour before they headed out to play massive summer festivals.

The band got the crowd moving with tracks like “Elephant,” a riff-rock bruiser, and slowed things down with songs like “’Cause I’m a Man,” a Michael Jackson inspired disco piece. The crowd sang along with every song, and when the band went on lengthy jams, everyone would appreciate the extraordinary light show going on. From my spot in the middle of the crowd, I felt the full experience of the concert, taking in the lights and music, moving with the crowd, dodging spilled beers and singing along, whenever I could.

Two songs stood out to me, in particular. The first, “Why Won’t They Talk to Me?” off of the band’s Grammy-nominated album “Lonerism,” summed up the Tame Impala experience. The song, just like many of the band’s songs, is written from a very introspective, lonely place. The paradox of hearing such a song, which is typically experienced alone, in such a large crowd with everybody singing along, was my favorite experience of the night and describes what it is to be a Tame Impala fan to the fullest.

The second highlight was the song “Apocalypse Dreams,” the bookend of the set and my personal favorite Tame Impala song. The song crescendos into a huge, cavernous space in the last few minutes, filling the venue with tasteful colors, sound and lights. The band left the stage as the crowd immediately begged for an encore.

The encore consisted of a drum jam, Tame Impala’s hit single “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards,” and another longer jam off of “Lonerism.” Parker left his guitar on the stand for “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards,” engaging the crowd and putting on perhaps his best vocal performance of the night as the crowd chanted along.

Tame Impala will hit the festival circuit throughout the summer, as well as release their third album, “Currents,” July 17. The band is riding high off the success of “Lonerism,” and the momentum definitely carried over into their spring tour, as they are playing at their absolute best. The magic of Tame Impala must be both seen and heard to be truly appreciated.

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