Photos & Review: Mika Earley
Sir Sly has been bumping around the indie music circuit since 2013 with “Gold and Ghost”. The year after brought You Haunt Me as their first extended play. Don’t You Worry, Honey arrived in 2017 with an added energy that translates into a spirited live show.
There is something unmistakable about Landon Jacobs’ voice in this setting. It became surreal in combination with the sweeping instrumentation of bandmates Jason Suwito and Hayden Coplen. Their set alternated between the contemplative wistfulness of early releases and radio favorites like “&Run” and “High”, held together with a thread of psychedelia. A giant light up brain pulsated on beat in the background, seeming almost alive. Such cerebral imagery underscored another recurring thread of the night: how experiencing Sir Sly live felt simultaneously like an individual journey and collective exploration.
Joywave catapulted the crowd into a sea of light and sound, beginning with the appropriately titled “Blastoffff”. From there the fervor increased exponentially, fed by blinking signs flanking either side of the stage with instructions such as “listen”, “welcome”, “talk”, and “applause”. An equally powerful air of nostalgia intertwined with this excitement because “Tongues” was one of the first songs I ever heard on an alternative station, something I can pinpoint as a key part of cultivating my investment in music. Especially on their most recent album Content, Joywave mulls over the complicated relationship people have with each other and technology. It shines through live with their self-aware, grandiose visuals. These emphasize just how much of a fabrication each performances is, while also serving as a foil to the genuine vulnerability of the accompanying songs.
Grab tickets here to check out these two amazing bands!