Alvvays @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
May 6th, 2024: Alvvays with Horse Jumper of Love @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
Alvvays - Photos Courtesy of Emily May
On May 6th, Canadian indie pop band Alvayys performed to a sold-out crowd at Mercury Ballroom! From the time the doors opened, a steady stream of fans filed into the venue, packing out the floor and balcony by the time the band went on stage. Opening the show this evening was Boston indie rock band Horse Jumper of Love. The band released their first album in 2016 and has since released 3 additional albums, performing a nice selection of songs this evening. Described as a “slow rock” band, their songs were melodic and had a slower tempo, with many people in the crowd grooving to the songs. Singer Dimitri Giannopoulos chatted a bit with the crowd between songs, but the band mainly just blew through their set and no doubt made some new fans this evening!
Closing out the evening was Alvvays and the crowd was more than ready! Since forming in 2011, the band has cultivated an ever-growing fan base and has released 3 albums, the last being Blue Rev, released in 2022. Starting their set with 2 songs from the latest album, “Easy On Your Own?” and “After The Earthquake”, they proceeded to perform several newer songs throughout their set, as well as some older tracks mixed in. Alvvays is a joy to watch perform, with a fun stage presence, feel-good music, and great stage production. Behind the stage was a projector screen that projected various images during their set, some with an almost psychedelic feel, and had the band awash in a myriad of colors. Singer/guitarist Molly Rankin interacted with the crowd a bit between songs, making jokes and thanking everyone for coming out this evening. Performing 19 songs before coming back out for a 3-song encore, they gave their fans plenty of songs this evening to sing and dance along to! Their encore consisted of one track from Blue Rev, “Pharmacist” and 2 songs from their 2014 self-titled first album, “Atop A Cake” and “Next of Kin”. There was such a feeling of joy in the venue this evening, with Alvvays having an adoring fan base, and everyone seemed to have a great time. The end of the show saw a lot of fans make a beeline to the merch table! I hope Alvvays stops in Louisville on their next tour and I’m sure I am not alone in that sentiment!
Horse Jumper of Love
Outside Lands 2023 // San Francisco, CA
Outside Lands -- San Francisco, CA -- August 11-13, 2023
All Photos Courtesy of: Sabrina Poel
Izzy Bizu
The highly anticipated Outside Lands Music Festival kicked off its fifteenth anniversary in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park from August 11-13, with over 100 acts performed across eight stages. Over 220,000 festival attendees enjoyed live music, the best of the Bay Area’s food & wine, and art installations and visual displays.
With Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, ODESZA, Lana Del Rey, The 1975, Megan Thee Stallion, Zedd, and Janelle Monae at the top of the bill, Outside Lands never fails to bring a formidable and diverse roster of talent to this annual festival. Whether you’re the type of festival goer to sit back along cypress trees or let it all out against the barricade, Outside Lands has something for everyone – where else can you see Shaq (aka DJ Diesel), Noah Kahan, and Lil Yachty on the same lineup?
Day 1 —
Day one was a testament to the festival's eclectic lineup, featuring a diverse array of genres that catered to every taste. From indie rock to electronic beats, hip-hop, and beyond, the stages were lit with talent. For electronic and house music enthusiasts, the SOMA tent was a haven of pulsating beats and euphoric melodies. Internationally acclaimed DJs took festival-goers on a sonic journey through electronic landscapes, making it nearly impossible to stand still. LED light displays and immersive visuals synchronized seamlessly with the music, creating an atmosphere of pure ecstasy. The new Dolores open-air dance floor allowed for the energy of the SOMA tent and the atmosphere of the festival grounds to co-exist harmoniously.
One of the standout performances of the day came from alternative-indie artist, Ethel Cain. Her infectious energy and heartfelt lyrics had the crowd singing along to every word, turning the vast field into a unified sea of fans. As the sun went down, the park was illuminated by dazzling lights & visuals beaming through San Francisco’s own, Karl the Fog, adding an extra layer of enchantment to the experience. Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated headlining set on the main stage rang in quite the crowd. Playing crowd favorites across his entire discography, it’s impossible not to be in awe of his artistry and performance. As the curtain fell on day one, the air was palpable with anticipation for the days ahead.
Day 2 —
Indie folk artists like Father John Misty and Maggie Roger serenaded the day two-afternoon crowd with their melodic harmonies, creating an atmosphere of relaxed camaraderie. Across the way, French pop and nu-disco band L’Imperatrice, had the crowd moving from start to finish with their infectious beats. The night closed out with Foo Fighters, Lana Del Rey, and FISHER across the 3 main stages.
Day 3 —
The third and final day brought the exhilarating weekend to an awe-inspiring conclusion, leaving attendees with lasting memories and a sense of fulfillment. The major surprise of the day was a guest appearance by Izzy Bizu during ODESZA’s closing set. Fans were wonderfully caught off guard when Izzy Bizu graced the stage to join ODESZA for track “Forgive Me”, off their 2022 album, The Last Goodbye. In true ODESZA fashion, a firework show shot off during the final song, marking the end of a truly iconic weekend.
The eclectic mix of music, the mesmerizing art, the delectable food, and the undeniable sense of community all pointed to an extraordinary weekend in the heart of San Francisco. Outside Lands will return to Golden Gate Park August 9-11, 2024. For more information about the festival, visit sfoutsidelands.com
Courtney Barnett & Friends @ The Salt Shed - Chicago, IL
August 16th 2022: Courtney Barnett, Alvvays @ The Salt Shed - Chicago, IL
Courtney Barnett - Photos Courtesy of Timi Ikene
The crowd sang along loudly to Courtney Barnett's lyrical prose, and she matched the energy. Hailing from Australia, Barnett put on an electrifying show last night at Chicago's newest outdoor venue, The Salt Shed, and moved the crowd with her music. This stop on her Here and There Festival also brought along indie rock band Alvvays. Their soft indie rock was well received. I'll be catching both artists the next time they're in Chicago!
ALVVAYS
