Photos by Chloe Gonzales
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From mosh pits to slow ballads, Current Joys knows how to get a crowd going.
Indie artist Nick Rattigan filled the seats of the Bellwether for a night of nostalgia. The band’s inception being a mysterious solo project, Rattigan remains an enigma on how he got his story. There’s no question, however, why his fans continue to support him.
Opener Dutch Interior, an alternative country band, kicked off the night as a heartfelt tribute to both melancholy and euphoria. With a combined 8,076,000 Spotify monthly listeners, Dutch Interior and Current Joys performed to a sold-out show on November 22.
Following Dutch Interior, Current Joys took to the stage. Dabbling in folk, surf rock, and alternative music, knowing whether Rattigan would stay within one genre was very touch and go. One minute he would be singing about suffocation and emptiness, and the next he would be jamming to the memories of his teenage angst. In person, Rattigan’s voice exudes less of a surf sound but more soulfulness, showcasing his authenticity. What stood out the most about Current Joys is how his voice consistently took over center stage, with the instruments serving as accompaniment.
The band featured a simple yet varied lineup, including keys, drums, bass, and even the violin. Rattigan skillfully utilized lighting to set the mood, opting for blue hues to create a calming atmosphere and yellow tones to elevate the energy. His adeptness at guiding and engaging the audience, teaching them to mimic his moves and feel his emotions, is a talent not many artists have. Whether they were swaying to slow songs to moshing to faster tracks, everyone in the venue shared a mutual understanding of each other.
What makes Rattigan truly special is his deep connection not only to his fans but also to his music. With every flip of his long blond hair as he hit a beat to even turning a broken string into an impromptu performance of “Seven Nation Army”, it is evident that Rattigan loves his work. The ability of someone with Rattigan’s passionate yet chaotic persona to produce such mellow yet engaging music is truly remarkable.
As Rattigan continued through his set and into the song “Fear”, the emotion emanating from the stage reached every corner of the venue. With only four more songs left on his setlist, he may have closed on a slower note but surely left the night off on a bang.
To fill a venue with a performance that really only features you is not a small feat. No matter the age or gender, everyone in the audience had their phones up, cameras on, and voices ready. Current Joys, in his effort to constantly appeal to new audiences, will forever remain iconic.
