Surfing the Joywave

I was at Union Transfer again on a recent Thursday night to see an indie rock band named Joywave.  Joywave has one album out, but it’s gotten a fair amount of airplay, particularly for the song “Dangerous.”  They sort of sound like a newer version of Echo and the Bunnymen, but you can hear other influences, too, and they’re highly danceable.  Like some bands, their recorded output just doesn’t match up with how they sound live.  It was a solid and enjoyable show, and had a lot of energy.  The crowd was in to it. 

Two things about the show:  first, let’s talk stage presence.  It’s amazing to me how few bands seem to truly appreciate how a compelling front-man or –woman can be for the crowd.  Joywave seems to get it, and Daniel Armbruster is fun to watch bounce around the stage and lead the band through its chops.  But he wasn’t alone; the others on the stage all seemed to enjoy being on stage as the pictures below attest.  The visuals were great. 

Second, for old guys like me, bands with only one or two albums out are nice because they play all the songs you know and usually in a brisk way (the Struts are an exception).  I like a longer show by bands that have the material to carry one, like the recent Wilco show.  But not all bands have the catalogue necessary for such extravagance.

Opening for Joywave was Transviolet, who we enjoyed.  There is a picture of them below, too (the very last one).

I hope you enjoy the pictures.  I seem to have trouble with getting great shots at Union Transfer, and I think it's because of the lighting there.  Anyway, thanks for reading.  I’ve been particularly busy with my real life lately, and haven’t been able to post as much as usual.  Sorry about that.  I hope you’re sorry, too.  Lots more to come soon, I promise.  See ya.