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Photos by Lily Stockton
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TV Girl isn’t a fan of whole numbers.
On a fateful summer night in June, this fact was proven to be true. I had the privilege of catching this so-cal based trio on the first of their three-night residency at Downtown LA’s Wiltern. The occasion? To celebrate “3 ½ years of 6 ½ years” of their critically acclaimed 2014 album, French Exit.
Now, let’s address the obvious. 3.5 + 6.5 = 10. Why then, you may ask, would they not just title their show, “10 years of French Exit?” If you hear just one witty remark from lead singer Brad Petering, the answer is clear: TV Girl isn’t like all the other bands.
And it’s true. Underneath vibrant color blocks of blue and pink, their music radiates summer nostalgia. Weaving together splashes of ‘60s French pop and southern California soul, TV Girl tackles heartbreak and takes it on a dreamy, psychedelic ride. Backed by Wyatt Harmon on keys and Jason Wyman on drums, the band delivers prosaic stories of scorned lovers and wistful romance through vintage rhythms and timeless samples. Their music, as they said best, is one in which “you can sing along to, but wouldn’t sing around your parents.”
And so, hopeful and parentless, we were ready to sing.
Of course though, a perfect concert cannot be complete without an equally perfect opener. In this case, we were graced by indie-folk artist, Jordana. If you know TV Girl, you definitely know her. If you don’t? Well, you should probably go and give her a listen.
Jordana first made a name through her 2020 debut album, The Classical Notions of Happiness. Entirely self-written and self-produced, her musical expertise effortlessly highlights her soft vocals and dreamy intonation. In TV-Girl-world, Jordana rose to much-deserved recognition through their co-collaborated 2021 EP, Summer’s Over. Pairing light piano melodies with funky guitar grooves, there is no better accompaniment to TV Girl’s music than Jordana’s voice.
Even without the band however, her talent can be seen in full-force during her opening acoustic set. Performing personal favorites like “Go Slow” and “My Idol,” Jordana paired her bedroom pop vocals with fan-favorites like “Summer’s Over,” aptly titled in honor of their EP. As soft red and deep purple enveloped a simple set-up of just her and her electric guitar, she bid a brief farewell to the crowd after a cover of “Sparks” by Coldplay.
It wasn’t goodbye just yet, but before Jordana would reappear on stage (spoiler alert), tonight was for TV Girl. And trust me, If there was ever a place to perform the entirety of French Exit back-to-back, it would be in the heart of Los Angeles, at the historic Wiltern.
Even a decade after the iconic album’s release, the sheer popularity of French Exit was very much alive and well. The sold-out crowd clearly made that known, singing every lyric back to the band without fail and laughing in unison as Petering’s comedic breaks echoed across the theater. Starting with the album’s first song, “Pantyhose,” and swiftly transitioning through all 40 minutes and 43 seconds of French Exit, TV Girl paired a bevy of synthetic samples with a backdrop of airy cymbals and hi-hat drums. Wistful longing pervaded through performances of “The Blonde” and “Daughter of a Cop,” as Petering curated the mysterious allure of a love-scorned persona.
Heartbreak, hatred, and longing that can’t be let go – according to French Exit, there is no better recipe for a TV Girl summer.
While every song was clearly met with the crowd’s delight, there was nothing quite like the echoes of excitement upon hearing the first swells of violin in “Lovers Rock.” Or as Petering put it, “the song that bought me a house.” While TikTok may be credited for the song’s continual reimmersion into musical popularity, the iconic first lyrics – “Are you sick of me // Would you like to be” – clearly establish the song’s true notoriety, social media or not.
Following the final notes from French Exit was an equally anticipated encore, featuring six extra songs across their discography. Without fail, Jordana also re-entered the stage, joining the band for a performance of “Sweet to Dream” and “Better in the Dark.” Together, Petering and Jordana made the stage their personal dancefloor, grooving to every pulse of monochromatic color.
As the band finished with “It Evaporates,” Petering took one final wave. Neon lights dimming and the crowd slowly dispersing, only one thing came to mind:
TV Girl may not be a fan of whole numbers, but it’s clear they’ll always be here to stay.
