“Think about the average TV Girl Fan. They’re lonely. They’re depressed. They’re morally bankrupt. They’re actually bankrupt. They have no friends. They don’t go outside. They’re addicted to their phones, and honestly they don’t smell very good most of the time! That’s who listens to TV Girl.” As said by none other than lead vocalist Brad Petering, TV Girl embraces the misfits, the lonely hearts, and the smartphone-drenched souls, and he’s made it his new mission to bestow a touch of divine intervention. Finding salvation at none other than the Observatory OC, the line to enter the venue extended beyond the eye can see, a testament to the magnetic allure that binds this unique community of TV Girl disciples.
Opening the night was indie-pop musician Jordana, joined by Sagiv Rosenstock on bass, Ian Michael on guitar, and Blake Richardson on drums. “I’m gonna play some rock music for you!” she exclaimed, right before picking up her Stratocaster and launching the band into “SYT.” Her dreamy vocals mixed with reverb-heavy guitar delivered an ethereal performance that captivated the crowd. With a smile on her face, she joked “We’re gonna jump into the next one!” beginning the intro to “Jump The Turnstile” off of 2021’s release, Summer’s Over. Jordana’s rendition of the original recording with TV Girl featured a fuzz heavy sound, with ringing guitars complementing Jordana and Ian’s explosive stage presence.
To the crowd’s surprise, “I’ll Take You There” by The Staple Singers suddenly played at full volume inside the Observatory. The lights dimmed, and lead vocalist Brad Petering took the stage clutching a bottle of wine and a vinyl of their recent release Grapes Upon the Vine. Drummer Jason Wyman effortlessly laid down a four on the floor disco beat, and keyboardist Wyatt Harmon joined background vocalists Maniya and Keira Smith in a hypnotic dance, clapping together to the disco groove of “I’ll Be Faithful.” Backlit by illuminated stained glass mosaics, the band created a visually stunning atmosphere.
TV Girl’s performance was mesmerizing, with multiple smooth transitions blending songs and choreography that held all six musicians in the same groove. “It’s our job to distract you from your miserable lives. We’ll do the TikTok hits tonight- they’re locked and loaded on the computer. We will be doing deep cuts and cold classics. And tonight we will be doing some songs people don’t care about at all!” And that they did, with the setlist featuring tracks from the beloved French Exit to their recent Grapes Upon the Vine. TV Girl showcased their sonic development by incorporating sophisticated background vocals, while still keeping their classic use of samples and rhythmic synthesizers.
“99.5” off of the new release was a shining example of TV Girl’s intricate layering of different sonic elements. Wyman’s drum fills and ringing synthesizers pierced the air as the ethereal glow of twinkling lights embraced the crowd. Seamlessly transitioning into “Fire,” Petering, Zeeman, Harmon, Maniya, and Smith harmonized into a powerful chorus that left the audience in a trance.
The most unexpected moment of the night occurred when Petering interrupted the show to announce TV Girl’s new sponsorship by Mountain Dew Code Red. He concluded his abrupt monologue with a lighthearted, “Let’s just look at my friend Wyatt as he continues the concert! Take it away, Wyatt!” Directing attention away from the previous interlude, Harmon picked up a metal triangle and delivered a high-energy solo that was met with ecstatic cheers from the crowd. Accelerating the tempo, Harmon’s triangle crescendoed into the opening notes of “Safeword,” accompanied by shimmering keyboards and the band’s trademark clever wordplay.
Another highlight of their performance was their live rendition of “Lo on the Hi-Way.” Petering invited Jordana onstage, and together they delivered a playful duet, paired with lighthearted choreography that reflected the lyrics of the track. The conversational quality of their lyrics reached its peak during the duet of the line “I’m feeling low on the highway,” creating a charming interplay between the two artists.
“It sounded like you were about to riot out here if we didn’t play your favorite song!” Petering exclaimed as he returned to the stage. Kicking off their encore, TV Girl fooled the crowd by playing “Big Black Void,” a gospel track about longing for a spiritual connection. With a quick transition signaled by the four clicks of Wyman’s drumsticks, a looped sample of orchestral strings drew shrieks from the audience. “Lovers Rock,” off of 2014’s French Exit still proved to be a fan favorite, with the crowd chanting “While the others talk / We were listening to lover’s rock.” Although the song was driven by relatively simple piano and strings layered over drums, TV Girl’s careful instrumentation crafted a dreamy sonic ecstasy.
The final song of their performance was “It Evaporates.” After downing a few bites of a banana, Petering thanked his fellow musicians and crew, and pranced across the stage as all 5 vocalists harmonized into a symphony of voices equivalent to a euphonious embrace. As the crowd erupted in applause, it was clear that TV Girl had successfully orchestrated musical salvation. Whether it was just musical genius or Petering’s deal with the dark lord himself (as referenced on their recent twitter post), TV Girl’s excellence left an indelible mark on the audience.
Listen to TV Girl’s recent release, Grapes Upon The Vine, here:
