If you are searching the world for an intersection of musical poetry and geometry, then stop at the crossroads that is a live Tycho show.

Headlining at Baltimore’s Rams Head Live! on Friday night, Tycho wrapped up their tour with a inspiriting performance.

But before we got to experience Tycho, another exhilarating set was to be had first. Autograf opened the evening to a venue already filling with fans.

This group from Chicago drives their sound layering marimbas, handdrums, and of course, electronic beats (which they introduce as “Keys and Pads” in their music video for their remix of Odezsa’s “All We Need”). This infusion of electronic and live performance was set to a optical, and ever-changing projection that magnified awesome natural phenomenons like the aurora borealis– a very fitting visual theme for their tunes.

The band, comprised of Jake Carpenter, Mikul Wing, and Louis Kha (who did not perform on Friday), is next on their way to Canada, and afterwards head to Electric Forest. Their most recognizable remixes are of classics like Marvin Gaye’s “Grapevine” and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.”

Carpenter, who expresses the percussion in his heart directly through live drumming. Leaving his marimbas for a few songs, he sat down to play a djembe right next to delighted, clapping fans. Next time he’s in the area, I’d invite him to make a cameo at Meridian Hill’s weekend drum circle, as a celebrity guest.

The Autograf performance was constantly moving, making you feel like the world was passing as fast as the time-lapses that were flashing behind them. As their social media hashtag reiterates, these guys really believe in the old-fashioned way of leaving a legacy: follow your dreams, don’t get discouraged, keep at it, and eventually #LeaveYourAutograf.

“You guys were great!” Wing thanked the now-filled venue, at the end of their 60-minute set.

After a short break, and after several fans nostalgically bragged that they saw Tycho last year at Electric Forest, the Bibio remix of Tycho’s “Spectre” started to play– but no one was one stage. The very chill tune was accompanied by an almost cartoonish visual of a sunrise and sunset.

The band took the stage while the song finished, before going into “Adrift,” a classic of theirs off the 2011 album “Dive.”

This tour has been promoting their latest album “Awake.” The project, started by lead Scott Hansen, has recently developed into a trio to include guitar and bass player Zac Brown, and live drummer Rory O’Connor. Hansen, who originally was a design artist, has been quoted promoting “Awake” as the first real Tycho album.

“Baltimore, it’s so good to be here,” said Hansen. “It’s been way too long.”

“Awake” was released over a year ago, in March 2014, and the tour has been on the road for 16-months — which might be a welcome change of scenery after locking themselves in a cabin together near Tahoe to create the album in the first place.

Song after song, the performance was refreshing, strong, and ethereal. The night didn’t need words to convey emotion, or to display a newfound artform. The imagery was sometimes dreamlike and sometimes sharply geometric. We traveled through the desert, across the arctic, and soared in the sky. All-around, the landscape that Tycho brings to a live show is something uniquely beautiful, and still approachable for newer fans.

Tycho has been getting praise for really finding their stride with their latest work, finding a tone that is very much uniquely their sound. In the process, Hansen has thrown himself fully into the band, the first time he’s only focussed on one artistic pursuit — and the clamoring fans at this Baltimore show seem to only reinforce his decision.

“This is the perfect ending to a very long journey,” thanked Hansen towards the end of the night. “I’m going to give those guys a break and play you a remix, then they’ll be right back out.”

He then launched into a solo performance of the Com Truise remix of “Awake.”

After the song, he introduced his bandmates, and added, “This has been the best farewell for a tour of all time. We are going to make another record, and then we will see you next year.”

So, until next year, we keep our eyes and ears awake, looking and listening from across the country towards San Francisco, from where the next creations of Tycho will break new ground.

Blog by Cristina Rayas, Photos by Toby Mues