Even though I just got back from a trip a few days ago, doesn’t mean the party has to stop! So to keep in rolling, a friend and I crossed the boarder over to Pennsylvania to catch Saint Motel in concert!
At a newly renovated venue, we got a pretty prime spot on the floor near the stage, and shortness be damned, we could actually see quite well! The show had one opening act, a two-piece by the name of Kolars. Having never heard of them before, nor doing any pre-listening research, I was actually rather impressed with them! They had a full sound with just drums and a guitar, even though they had some back-tracking helping them out. The drummer, Lauren, also played standing up which is always impressive to me when I see it happen. They played a decent length set, too, being the only openers, so it was nice to hear a range of songs from them. I’m going to check them out some more, and hopefully they get a new fan out of me!
After a short break, Saint Motel took the stage. Their latest EP, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Part 1, seemed to be the theme of the evening. While the rest of the band were stood onstage, lead singer, A.J. Jackson, strode past my friend and with a lantern and a winter jacket – so surreal! Everything about the set was cinematic and very upbeat! He changed outfits several times, donning a spacesuit, naval gear, and army jackets for each shift in the setlist. I looked forward to, and was very satisfied, with their hits like “Cold Cold Man,” “Move,” and newest single, “Van Horn.” Even with them ending the show with “My Type,” the crowd seemed to be die-hard fans, because every single song was met with intense applause and cheers. I also really enjoyed the two covers they did of Sufjan Stevens and Maxine Nightingale tracks.
Overall, it was a really quality show, so if they’ve got a date near you, be sure to attend! And also, if you’re live in the area, go check out the newly renovated Roxian Theatre – it’s a very nice venue!