On Monday night of finals week, at the height of student stress, I received a text message from none other than photographer Julia Steinhouse: “Want to cover Sarah and the Sundays with me tomorrow?” To my professors’ dismay, I replied: “Absolutely.”
On March 19th, Sarah and the Sundays played at the Troubadour, with the Brazen Youth opening for them. The venue’s ambiance was both personal and inviting. From the intimate acoustic folk sound of the Brazen Youth to the thrilling indie rock energy of Sarah and the Sundays, the concert showcased the depth of contemporary indie music.
The Brazen Youth is an indie folk band originally formed by childhood friends Nic Lussier and Charlie Dahlke from Connecticut. They proudly exclaimed that they had been playing together for over a decade, having started playing together at just 13 years old. Lussier and Dahlke were both on vocals and playing guitar and keys, respectively. They were joined by Micah Rubin, John Lisi, and Mei Semones on drums, bass, and guitar. Opening with “Spirit Find Air,” Lussier’s soothing voice immediately captivated the crowd. The lyrics beautifully conveyed the longing for self-discovery and the difficulties of navigating life, offering the crowd a sense of relatability.
As a fellow New Englander, I felt a taste of home when listening to their music. The lighting stayed consistently blue for their performance, providing a feeling of serenity and calmness to the atmosphere. The audience was in awe and swaying happily throughout the performance. The band worked perfectly off of each other, with synchronicity in both their instruments and their movements. It was clear that they were a close-knit group of musicians and friends, which made the show all the more enjoyable.
The Brazen Youth had a soothing presence but also had a notable rise in intensity, range, and emotion as they progressed from their first song to their last. Their build-up aptly warmed up the crowd for Sarah and the Sundays, who went on to have a lively and electrifying performance. Sarah and the Sundays is an indie rock band from Austin, Texas, with a playful edginess to both their musical and performance style. The members of the band consisted of Liam Yorgensen, Declan Chill, Brendan Whyburn, Quinn Lane, and Miles Reynolds, who were the vocalist, bassist, guitarist, drummer, and keyboardist listed accordingly.
When the band first arrived on stage, Whyburn emerged in red sunglasses with a white claw and water in his hand. It was at that moment that I knew we were in for an energetic performance. A vibrant array of lights in blue, purple, orange, and pink danced and swirled around the stage. The variety in hues evoked many different emotions, complementing the auditory experience beautifully.
They opened with “Ruby Fields” and immediately exuberated a confident and carefree spirit. Yorgensen and Whyburn had exhilarating chemistry on stage, frequently sharing playful interactions on stage. Their synergy added an extra layer of entertainment to their already mesmerizing performance. Yorgensen also had phenomenal crowd work, making many jokes to engage the audience. He played the guitar for a few of the songs and even broke one of his strings at one point. He quickly brushed it off, explaining that he broke his string because he was “just having too much fun,” to which the crowd responded with a roaring laugh. The show was not without mistakes, but the band’s ability to quickly adapt and turn errors into comedy showcased their mastery of live performance.
In the song “Moving On,” Lane introduced a simple clapping pattern for the crowd to follow. In giving us a palatable yet infectious pattern, it offered us an even greater sense of importance and community. At this moment, Yorgensen proceeded to enter the floor area and even danced in a circle with the audience.
To add further excitement, which I did not think was possible at this moment, the band announced their soon-to-be-released EP, “Cease,” and their upcoming record, Casanova. “Cease” was released on March 27th, and I urge everyone to give it a listen. They played a lot of songs from their new record, which has yet to be released. We were very lucky to get a sneak peek (or sneak listen, I should say) into an album that will soon be loved by so many people.
Sarah and the Sundays, supported by the talented Brazen Youth, delivered an evening of captivating performances at the Troubadour. The seamless blend of enchanting melodies, dynamic stage presence, and engaging audience interactions made for a night unforgettable for everyone in attendance. It was a testament to the power of live music to connect people through shared experiences and make going to a concert during finals week worth it, leaving me and everyone else eagerly anticipating the release of Sarah and the Sundays’ Casanova.
Photos by Julia Steinhouse
