Courtney Barnett, Whitney, Toro y Moi, Nourished By Time, Moin, Being Dead, Tobacco City, and Lauren Auder

Having post Valentines day blues, I chose instead to express my love by gathering all my friends that would follow me on a trip to my mecca, Rough Trade, to see Courtney Barnett and the Courtney Barnetts. Despite claims from some that "lunchtime gigs are weird," I think if you love music you love it any time of the day, and clearly I'm in good company as the place is packed! So much so they had to lock the doors!
Not really sure what to expect from Courtney live, I was happily surprised to find she rocks. And despite 2.5 years in London, transforming me from my pastels of the first visit, to Londonite greys and blacks, I still like to express myself with more than the hipster head nod, and its hard not to, getting caught up in their shared smiles which each other, as they are clearly enjoying the gig and the turn out. With beautifully crafted stories of mundanely simple everyday life, it's difficult not to smile as well. "Are you eating? You sound so thin" and "I got drunk and fell asleep atop the sheets but luckily i left the heater on." The highlight for me was her new song, "Depreston". Inspired by a town in Melbourne called Preston, which she says "really isn't that bad... it has a dumping ground... and a post office." The lyrics are even better and despite the sweet melody most of the crowd is cracking a smile.
I love her lyrics so much, I'm inspired to buy my first record in years. I stay around to get her to sign it, on the inside where there is a picture of a washing line and its says, "Nobody knew whose socks they were, but they had been hanging there for weeks." Watching everyone get cheesy photos with her, I suggest instead we should get them to join us in the Rough Trade photo booth. And my friend is brave enough to ask. Score!

Bit of a weird opening from Jimmy Whispers, but that was entertaining nonetheless. Michael Rault rocks on his solos, another great opener. Whitney itself is great. They're very dynamic and perform longer versions of their songs with more solos and flourishes. Would recommend.

Toro y Moi brings on the funky R&B inspired beats that makes everyone on the dance-floor want to move.
Toro y Moi is the stage-name of Chaz Bundick who composes and produces all of his fresh, danceable groves. One of many things that makes Toro y Moi’s music so interesting is the diverse elements he mixes into his music, which include funk, R&B, and synthpop. Chaz Bundick also shows his interest in mixing elements through his choice of stage-name, Toro y Moi, which is a multilingual expression consisting of phrases in Spanish and French. This interest in mixing diverse elements together could have come from Chaz’s diverse upbringing having been raised by an African-American father and a Filipino mother. Toro Y Mo has been noted for helping form a new brand of genre labeled chillwave, which is noted for extensively blending the elements of effects processing, synths, and sampling. This style of music creates a washed over effect to the music that reminds one of relaxing at the beach on a sunny day.
Although Toro y Moi has features of his music that have a chill quality to it, he also has elements of the music that contain funky bass lines and punchy synth lines that make for great club music. When performing live, Chaz is often accompanied by a backing band consisting of a bass player, a drummer, and guitarist that help brighten the live sound of the performance. There are usually displays of atmospheric lights that wash over the stage creating a visceral like landscape, but then there are flashy lights that beam back and forth over this landscape that incites people to get up and dance.
Overall Toro y Moi puts on one chill performance with his deep melodic hooks and groovy bass lines that will keep the audience dancing with glee.

I saw them at Barboza in March of 2024. They are the best upcoming band I have heard in a long time! You have to see them if you get a chance.