The last March days didn’t just bring the first warm rays of Spring sunshine to the UK’s capital, but also the wavy sounds of indie powerhouse Dayglow for a night of infectious bedroom pop hits filling the iconic Shepherd’s Bush Empire to the brim.
Bouncing onto the stage to the chants of the excited crowd and 2001: A Space Odyssey’s ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’, Texas native Sloan Struble, the group’s lead singer and frontman, immediately brought the energy in the room to new heights, smiling ear to ear with his guitar in hand. Over the course of the past six years, the band, birthday by the young mixer, producer and songwriter, has been taking over the alt-music scene with their catalogue of four albums full of irresistible indie joy.
The show started with the twinkling notes of fan-favourite ‘Hot Rod’, moving the audience to their communal dance before the four-piece continued with playful tracks ‘Cocoon’ and ‘Every Little Thing I Say I Do’. For the first surprise of the evening, Dayglow offered the crowd a glimpse into what the band has been working on with the unreleased track ‘Atlantis’, which saw the stage enveloped in shades of greens and blues, and thematically explored the aesthetics of an underwater world, complete with nautical anecdotes and colourful imagery – perfectly fitted for the quintessential Dayglow soundscape the world has come to love and crave.
And that is exactly why Dayglow works so well – both off- and on stage. No matter if you are a die-hard fan, know a song or two, or have never even really heard of them, you will always have a great time following along the Dayglow journey, all thanks to the quartet’s fun and upbeat alt-rock vibes that land on just the right spot between honey-sweet and gritty to please the crowds.
Above all, though, it’s the love for their craft that transcendences and sparkles throughout the entirety of the performance. An energy that the packed venue seemed more than ready to match as soon as the familiar strums of ‘Can I Call You Tonight’ began, welcoming in the last track before the encore, which flew right past the usual count of three performed songs and finished after four strong hits and the nostalgic ‘Rule The World!!!’. Because it simply wouldn’t be a Dayglow gig if it didn’t go the extra mile with a sunny smile and golden bow.
Written by Laura Weingrill
GEM Magazine 