RIYL: Alvvays, Wild Ones, The Japanese House, Better Oblivion Community Center, Stars
It was perfect weather while leaving the East Bay to witness the sunny sounds of The Greeting Committee’s latest record, Everyone’s Gone And I Know I’m The Cause. That said, Divisadero was already fog-soaked before the doors opened at The Independent so the coat check would see no peace from a full load of Northface jackets and baggy ponchos.
Following their tour mates Toledo, the all clear signal was given and the crowd slowly stood to attention to “The End of the World” by Skeeter Davis. It was a fitting intro for a band who has unleashed a record of finely tuned, danceable pop songs containing themes like longing, self loathing, and broken relationships.
The seemingly sleepy Sunday crowd officially woke up halfway through song two (“Is This It”). And it was only this far in that vocalist Addie Sartino cemented her energy level that would be sustained for the night. The mic rarely would sit snug in its stand and instead was being bounced, hopped, and generally danced alongside its beholder. Another song or two in, I spotted multiple people yelling the lyrics of “Sex and Taxes” at friends who clearly didn’t know the words. This tactic easily worked, and songs with a scattering of crowd singers could ripple into more of a chorus.
Few instrument changes get a bigger roar than someone, in this case bassist Pierce Turcotte, grabbing a saxophone (“You’ve Got Me”). Guitarist Noah Spencer may be able to occasionally enable a power saving mode as the rest of his time towering over his bandmates is spent in berserker mode. He pushed the limits of the invisible fence he was stationed in like a lost member of The Hives. One of two newer additions with Spencer, was the kit was captained by Michah Richie. You wouldn’t be able to convince me that either person attached to the guitar or drums hadn’t been playing with founders Sartino & Turcotte since Day One.
