In light of Sylvan Esso’s outstanding debut effort as well as the quality repertoire of Akron/Family and member Dana Buoy’s solid new solo recordings, Sunday night’s double-bill at Emo’s stood out as a must-see show. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones who thought so, since the bill was originally booked for the under 500 capacity Parish ended up relocating to the much larger Emo’s on East Riverside—and still selling out days in advance.
Dana Buoy took the stage first, and I’m sure that some light research would have revealed the fact that Buoy would be backed by, essentially, a full band—two other members playing drums, bass, and keys. What I had heard of Buoy’s solo work, namely his championed single “Preacher,” along with a few other songs, had me expecting more pre-recorded sounds, perhaps drum and synth loops. Instead, Buoy’s live band made for a much less polished and edgier sound, featuring buzzing guitars and hard hitting beats. The ultimate aesthetic channeled early aughts indie rock, where I didn’t even pick up such a reference point in the recorded material. While some undoubtedly might have missed the dancier sensibilities, which felt absent, I appreciated a live set that felt less polished, more raw.
The sold out crowd exuded anticipation by the time Sylvan Esso took the stage, and as the duo launched into set-opener “Hey Mami,” fans sang along and got the dance party started. I had seen the band at Free Press Summer Fest, where they were able to kick out impeccable, minimalist dance jams in the middle of the day, so I knew their prowess in the club would be undeniable. I wasn’t wrong. These songs are great, and Amelia Meath’s onstage moves are as adept as her warm vocals. In fitting accompaniment to the band’s sound, the light arrangement for the evening featured a minimal yet strategically placed series of tower lights that pulsed in an array of colors.
One of the more delightful aspects of Sylvan Esso’s songs is that they aren’t just fun to dance to but also to sing, as the lyrics, although often a touch cryptic, are interesting and well constructed. “Coffee,” the band’s standout single came fourth in the setlist, and had concertgoers more engrossed than at any other point in the night. However, a good portion of the songs proved to be enthusiastic sing-alongs. With a small catalogue of songs from this young band, fans know what they’re going to get at this point. What they’re getting is great, and Sylvan Esso find themselves at a pivotal point where a solid sophomore effort could propel them to great heights as an dance-centric yet intelligent group.
All photos © Bryan C. Parker & Pop Press International. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
