The Struts @ House of Blues - Houston
July 23rd, 2024: The Struts @ House of Blues - Houston, TX
Photos Courtesy of: Violeta Álvarez
Rock 'n' Roll Revival: The Struts Electrify Houston
After Hurricane Beryl's devastation that left over 2 million Houstonians without power for weeks during a record-breaking heat wave, the city was desperately in need of a pick-me-up, this concert was the perfect remedy for the city's weary spirits. On July 23, 2024, the British rockers, The Struts kicked off their Pretty Vicious Tour with a bang at Houston's House of Blues. Despite a looming flood watch, fans packed the venue, eager for a night of rock 'n' roll magic, bringing a much-needed dose of excitement to the Bayou City. And OH WOW, The Struts delivered!
From the moment the band hit the stage, the band's energy was magnetic. The band launched into "Bulletproof Baby," performed for the first time since 2019, the audience sang along to every word, creating a unified wave of voices that echoed through the venue. Frontman Luke Spiller, ever the showman, strutted across the stage with his signature moves, igniting the crowd with his charisma. The band draws influences from hints of Queen and David Bowie, which shone through in their performance, but The Struts have undeniably crafted their unique modern flair of sound and style.
The stage setup was nothing short of spectacular. A backdrop featuring iconic London historic buildings added a touch of the band's roots, while rows of illuminated amps lined the stage. Pillars of light and smoke effects created an atmosphere that was both intimate and larger-than-life. The dramatic stage lighting transformed the venue, giving it a stadium-like feel but without losing that cozy vibe.
Guitarist Adam Slack was on fire all night, his solos reaching new heights. The rhythm section of Jed Elliott on bass and Gethin Davies on drums provided a rock-solid foundation for the band's performances.
One of the most touching moments came when Spiller asked everyone to raise their phone lights, creating a sea of twinkling stars in the crowd. As he led the audience in a singalong, the connection between the band and fans was electric. Throughout the night, the House of Blues staff could be seen dancing along and I even spotted one of the security guards who couldn't resist playing air guitar. A particularly touching moment was when a father and son duo danced together, the young boy perched on his dad's shoulders, both lost in the music. It was a beautiful reminder of how music can unite people, transcending generations.
The setlist was a perfect mix of new tracks from their latest album "Pretty Vicious" and fan favorites. The crowd went wild for classics like "Could Have Been Me" and "Kiss This," while also embracing new gems like "Better Love," which made its live debut.
Thank you, The Struts, for bringing your shining light to Houston. This concert was exactly what the doctor ordered. After weeks of heat waves and power outages due to Hurricane Beryl, this was exactly the energy we needed. Your music and vibrant performance reminded us of the power of rock 'n' roll to heal and uplift. Houston can't wait to welcome you back!
almost monday @ Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia
July 25th 2024: almost monday @ Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia, PA
Dawson Daugherty of almost monday - Photos Courtesy of Carolyn Lederach
almost monday kicked off things at Philly’s Wells Fargo Center on Thursday, July 25th, opening for AJR. Their sunny Cali-infused music was a great setting for the balmy Summer day. As the stadium filled up, the crowd welcomed the pop hits with dancing, singing, and a classic moody lighting of the phone for a sad song.
The 4-piece is no stranger to Philly, but playing their largest venue this time. Needless to say, their music was made for a setting like this, with a large stage to encapsulate all of frontman Dawson Daugherty’s captivating moves. It’s always a special time catching an almost monday show, side effects include instant happiness.
Setlist
is it too late?
can’t slow down
cough drops
only wanna dance
tidal wave
Jupiter
sunburn
sun keeps on shining
life goes by
Del Water Gap @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
July 14th, 2024: Del Water Gap, Kaleah Lee @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
Photos Courtesy of: Emily May
Del Water Gap (S. Holden Jaffe) brought his current tour to Mercury Ballroom on July 14th to a sea of screaming fans! The nearly sold-out show was packed this evening, with fans filling the floor and all sides of the balcony. While starting the musical project in 2012, he rose to prominence in 2020 upon releasing “Ode To A Conversation Stuck In Your Throat” and “Mariposa” and has been growing a devoted fan base ever since. As the lights dimmed, signalling that the band was about to come out on stage, Jaffe and his band were welcomed with deafening screams and cheers, with the band wasting no time launching in their set. Starting things off with “Coping On Unemployment”, Better Than I Know Myself”, and “Dollhouse”, they had the crowd singing and dancing in no time. Jaffe was very engaging with the crowd, whether leading them all in sing-alongs, standing or sitting at the front of the stage to sing directly to them, or signing his autograph for a fan and later getting out into the crowd, it was very clear that he adores his fans as much as they adore him. He talked with the crowd often between songs, telling everyone early on how he was so honored to be there. He went on to say how he had been touring as support for Niall Horan and when he got to the tour was told he could play some one-off shows in places he hadn’t played before, with Louisville being one of those places. He said, “I played baseball as a kid and knew of the Louisville Sluggars but not much else about Louisville, so I am excited to be playing here! I wrote songs as a kid because I was too shy to tell girls I liked them and never thought I’d get to play music and tour as an adult. I’m so glad to get to play here and that people know my songs!”.
The band had such a fun and uplifting energy and spent their set making sure everyone was having a good time. As the set came to an end, they ended with “Perfume”, which saw Jaffe get out into the crowd, much to his fan’s delight. It was a great way to end their set before ultimately coming back out for an encore. Addressing the crowd one last time, he said “Louisville! Thank you so much for a beautiful evening. All I ever wanted was to be a singer, and I get to do so because of people like you who like to spend money on music, so thank you very much. I’ll never take it for granted!”. The band ended the evening with “We Will Never Be Like Anybody Else” and “Ode To A Conversation Stuck In Your Throat”. Starting things off this evening was Vancouver singer-songwriter Kaleah Lee. With just her and an acoustic guitar, she sang some really beautiful and thoughtful songs, with a voice that was both powerful and subdued. She had a bright and uplifting stage presence, chatting and having fun with the crowd. She got the crowd going towards the end of her set when she sang a cover of Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!”. I do not doubt that she made plenty of new fans this evening! All in all, it was a super fun evening with a really fun energy!
Kaleah Lee
T-Pain @ Central Park's SummerStage - Manhattan
June 23rd, 2024: T-Pain's Mansion in Wiscansin Party @ Central Park SummerStage - Manhattan, NY
T-Pain | Photos courtesy of: Alyssa Rasp
T-Pain brought the Mansion in Wiscansin Party Tour to Central Park’s SummerStage on June 23rd, and he had the crowd hyped all night long.
Appearing onstage in front of a massive video wall, T-Pain took to the stage just after dusk in a colorful ringleader look – top hat and all. He opened the show on a high and it only got better throughout the night.
The setlist covered a lot of ground. Most songs were put into mashups to keep the energy up nonstop. He had the hits, the deeper cuts, the covers… a bit of everything. Every night of the tour is just a little bit different, so even if you wanted to, you wouldn’t know what you were walking into. Just a night of living in the moment at the best fancy party ever.
The crowd shared a vulnerable moment with T-Pain as he spoke about how after the illustrious career he’s had, he’s still able to go out and play shows like this as a fully independent artist.
T-Pain is a hitmaker with an unmatched amount of talent. No one will ever forget the night he brought his mansion to New York and invited us to come over.
Beginning the set sitting in front of his keyboard, Bridwell transitioned to his guitar early on and rocked out with the band on stage, often engaging with the fans in the crowd and ensuring everyone was having a good time. Towards the end of the set, the band performed their big hits and fan favorites, “No One’s Gonna Love You”, “Is There A Ghost”, and “Funeral”, which ended their pre-encore set. Leaving the stage briefly, the band came back out for a 2-song encore. Starting their encore with “Blue Beard”, they ended the night with a fun cover of INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart”! Opening the show this evening was Cincinnati band Carriers. Led by singer/guitarist Curt Kiser, the band had a psychedelic, Americana sound and a fun energy on stage that warmed the crowd up for the evening!
Band of Horses @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
July 2nd, 2024: Band of Horses with Carriers @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
Photos courtesy of: Emily May
On July 2nd, beloved South Carolina-based rock band Band of Horses brought their 2024 Tour to Mercury Ballroom to a nearly sold-out crowd of fans! Having formed in 2004, the band has grown a large and devoted fan base over the past 2 decades, with many fans this evening buzzing with excitement. Singer-songwriter Ben Bridwell was in high spirits this evening and, although he didn’t chat too much between songs, he did thank the crowd for their warm reception, for coming out this evening, and for their continued support over the years. Starting things off with some early tracks from their 2006 album Everything All The Time and 2007 album Cease To Begin, the band performed “The First Song”, “Ode To LRC”, and “Wicked Gil”. With a 20-song setlist, there were plenty of newer and older songs alike, with the crowd singing and dancing along to all of them.
Beginning the set sitting in front of his keyboard, Bridwell transitioned to his guitar early on and rocked out with the band on stage, engaging often with the fans in the crowd and making sure everyone was having a good time. Towards the end of the set, the band performed their big hits and fan favorites, “No One’s Gonna Love You”, “Is There A Ghost”, and “Funeral”, which ended their pre-encore set. Leaving the stage briefly, the band came back out for a 2-song encore. Starting their encore with “Blue Beard”, they ended the night with a fun cover of INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart”! Opening the show this evening was Cincinnati band Carriers. Led by singer/guitarist Curt Kiser, the band had a psychedelic, Americana sound and a fun energy on stage that warmed the crowd up for the evening!
Carriers
Knocked Loose @ Paristown Hall - Louisville
June 14th, 2024: Knocked Loose, Poison The Well, White Reaper, and Division of Mind @ Paristown Hall - Louisville, KY
Photos Courtesy of Emily May
Beloved Oldham County, KY hardcore punk band Knocked Loose performed three consecutive Louisville shows recently, all of which sold out, with this being night two of three. Nights two and three were the larger capacity Paristown Hall shows, with night one being a smaller, more intimate show at a small local venue. You could feel the energy buzzing in the room from the fans packing out the venue as soon as doors opened, with the fans waiting outside for doors to open wrapping around the venue! The fans cheered and screamed as the lights dimmed, indicating the band was coming out on stage. The band released their latest album You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To in May of this year and started their set this evening with the track “Blinding Faith” from the album. Performing other tracks from the album that included “Piece By Piece”, “Don’t Reach For Me”, and the live debut of “Sit & Mourn”, they showcased their new album in a live setting. With plenty of older tracks for longtime fans, such as “Counting Worms”, “Billy No Mates”, “Deadringer”, “Tapped In The Grasp Of A Memory”, “Belleville”, “Guided By The Moon”, and “All My Friends”, they performed a nice variety of songs that spanned their 10-year catalog as a band.
Early on, vocalist Bryan Garris told the crowd, “Louisville, we are home! We’ve been on the road for the past 6 weeks practicing for this weekend! These shows are to support our brand new album!”. “This is day 2 of three to celebrate the album and we want to thank you for being a part of it.” Telling the crowd they were going to play an old song, Garris announced, “If you know the words, you have to sing along! Those are the rules!”. For most of their set, there were several mosh pits going, with the band at one point telling everyone to join forces to make a big mosh pit, to which the crowd happily obliged. The band got the crowd hyped throughout the set, encouraging everyone to mosh and sing along. It was a high-energy set, both from the band and the crowd, from the first note to the last! Ending the set with “Everything Is Quiet Now”, they had the fans moshing until the very last note! Opening the show this evening were Richmond, VA hardcore band Division of Mind, popular Louisville garage punk band White Reaper, and Miami metalcore band Poison The Well.
Poison The Well
White Reaper
Division of Mind
Livingston @ The Complex - Salt Lake City
June 3rd, 2024: Livingston, Connor Kauffman @ The Complex- Salt Lake City, UT
Photos Courtesy of: Rachel Leonard
A Hometown Odyssey: Livingston Live at the Complex
On June 3rd, Livingston brought his highly-anticipated “A Hometown Odyssey” tour to the Complex in Salt Lake City, delivering an unforgettable performance that left the audience buzzing long after the final note. Originally planned to take place at the iconic Kilby Court, Livingston’s performance was quickly upgraded to the Complex due to overwhelming demand. Even the upgraded venue sold out, allowing over four times as many fans to attend.
The evening began with an impressive performance from Connor Kauffman, who did an excellent job ramping up the crowd. Kauffman delivered a dynamic set that included everything from high-energy anthems to emotional, heart-wrenching ballads. He even performed his rendition of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” which had everyone screaming. His energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and he quickly won over the crowd. Kauffman’s musical style perfectly complements Livingston’s, making him an excellent addition to the tour.
From his first moment onstage, Livingston commanded the room with an energy that was both powerful and infectious. His vocals were impressive throughout the night, whether accompanied by a full production or just the piano, and the raw emotion was overwhelming. The fans positively received the setlist; everyone in attendance screamed along with each word, whether it was a major single or an unreleased gem.
The crowd was fully engaged from start to finish. Livingston regularly interacted with the audience, sharing various stories behind his songs and expressing genuine gratitude for the support he was shown. The connection between him and his fans was palpable, and it was inspiring to see the sense of love and community he’s created.
Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual listener, seeing Livingston live is an experience not to be missed. His ability to connect with the audience and deliver a high-energy, emotionally rich performance makes him a must-see performer. Jumping from a 200-capacity venue to one that holds over 800 is quite the leap for someone on their first headlining tour. Still, Livingston proved that, even with his increased popularity, he can captivate large audiences without losing the personal touch his fans have come to know and love.
Connor Kauffman
Vampire Weekend @ 713 Music Hall - Houston
June 6th, 2024: Vampire Weekend, La Lom @ 713 Music Hall - Houston, TX
Photos Courtesy of: Violeta Álvarez
Vampire Weekend Brings Their Vibrant Music Exploration to Houston
Kicking off their new tour in Houston on Thursday night June 6, 2024, Vampire Weekend delivered a captivating performance that spanned their eclectic catalog of indie rock and world music influences that was a music exploration. From the moment LA opener La Lom warmed up the crowd with their surf rockabilly sound, the atmosphere at 713 Music Hall buzzed with anticipation.
When Vampire Weekend took the stage, they opened simply as a three-piece in front of a giant backdrop bearing the band's name transitioning to a grand production as Vampire Weekend dived into their repertoire. Their expanded lineup, a seven-piece touring ensemble, infused the venue with a chamber orchestra of indie rock world sounds. The addition of an interpretive dancer, combined with the band's diverse instrumentation including piano, violin, saxophone, pedal steel, bass, acoustic and electric guitar, and two drummers, produced a dynamic symphony of sound that fully engaged and captivated the audience.
As the night unfolded, Vampire Weekend's music traversed their sound from one vibe to the next - a bit jazzy here, an 80s electronic tinge there, next grinding out an edgy indie rock sound oozing NYC attitude, to haunting melodies that tugged at the heartstrings then back to their world indie pop twangy surf sound. Lead singer Ezra Koenig's tender pop vocals were highlighted by the band's masterful instrumentation, creating a dynamic interplay of sound and emotion.
An equally imaginative stage design and lighting complemented the varied musical ensemble. The crew, dressed as construction workers, created a visual backdrop resembling an underground tunnel construction site. The lighting effects brought about dramatic phase shifts, from bathing the band in blue to green-hued melancholy to synchronizing strobes with pummeling rhythms.
Songs like "Hannah Hunt" and "Hope" emerged as poignant highlights of the evening, resonating with tracks like "Oxford Comma." Ezra Koenig's introspective lyrics struck a chord with the crowd, infusing the performance with emotional depth. The encore brought a delightful surprise as Koenig engaged the audience for song requests, resulting in spirited covers of "1901" by Phoenix, "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House, and a snippet of "Wonderwall" by Oasis, revealing Vampire Weekend's playful spirit.
Throughout the night, the crowd of fans was filled with happiness, dancing and cheering, creating an atmosphere of pure joy and excitement. From the vibrant world indie rock sound and electric energy of their anthemic pop highs to the wistful horns to tugging at the heartstrings, Vampire Weekend's Houston show captured their unique ability to deliver an unbound live sonic exploration experience that both electrified and soothed in the same breath. Their seamless shapeshifting between styles and eras made for a mesmerizing performance that electrified and delighted the devoted Houston fans.
SETLIST
Mansard Roof
Holiday
Ice Cream Piano
Classical
Capricorn
Connect
Prep-School Gangsters
White Sky
Unbelievers
This Life
Sunflower
2021
Unbearably White
Flower Moon
Campus
Oxford Comma
Gen-X Cops
Diane Young
Cousins
A-Punk
Mary Boone
Hannah Hunt
Harmony Hall
Hope
ENCORE
1901 (Phoenix cover)
Don't Dream It's Over (Crowded House cover)
Wonderwall (Oasis cover)
Walcott
La Lom
