March 12, 2025, and I’m back at this venue. It is my second time here since Jason Wade's acoustic night performing Lifehouse’s greatest hits. Two weeks ago, I reached out to the LPR marketing staff to see if I could photograph/cover ‘This Wild Life’ performance. Days later, Miss Gianna kindly informed me that the team was happy and invited me to photograph their performance. So, I told my younger brother, Jonathan, and sent him a YouTube video to see if he was interested in joining me for the concert. He didn’t know the band, but when he saw the video, the first thing he said was, “Wow, this has Dashboard Confessional vibes!” He quickly responded, “YES, I want to go with you.”
Days passed, and it was the day of the concert. We took the train to the city. I told my brother what I really liked about this venue, LPR: the place is in the basement and has an intimate vibe. It’s not that big, but the atmosphere is really good, and the people in charge at the front door were very nice, as were the security staff. I’ve been to many venues in the city, from Brooklyn to Queens, to photograph performances, and most of the venue security and the people at the front door have been very rude.
Okay, let me get back to the show. We arrived at 7 PM, and the show started at 7:30 with two opening bands, Young Culture and Belmont. I was expecting a seated and intimate vibe, similar to Jason Wade’s performance, since This Wild Life is an acoustic duo, but it wasn’t, and there were no barricades.
The first act was Young Culture. I had never heard of this band before; they are a pop-punk band from Albany, New York, known for their melodic and introspective music, formed by Alex Magnan (vocals) and Gabe Pietrafesa (guitar). Vocalist Alex Magnan captivated the audience as he energetically moved across the stage, embodying the excitement and vitality characteristic of any opening act. Young New Yorkers enthusiastically sang along to every track; it seemed my brother and I were the only ones unfamiliar with Young Culture.
The next band was Belmont, a Chicago-based band formed in 2014, known for their pop-punk, metal, and electronic sound. The lineup currently includes Taz Johnson (vocals), Brian Lada (drums, guitar, bass, programming), and Jason Inguagiato (guitar). These kids can perform, and vocalist Taz was extremely energetic, jumping all around. Damn, that was a really fun performance.
Thirty minutes later, the stage was all set for This Wild Life. I first heard of them years ago on YouTube, covering songs from various artists and doing deep cuts acoustically. Their sound carries a laid-back, indie-pop atmosphere, contrasting with that of the opening acts; nevertheless, the audience was fully engaged. Attendees sang along and waved their hands in rhythm with the music. Longtime fans, some of whom have been loyal for over a decade, came together to commemorate the album's anniversary, immersing themselves in the complete experience. I managed to capture a photo of the setlist, revealing that they planned to perform 14 tracks. Following a complete performance of their album, the band was prepared with four songs for the encore. Among them was a heartfelt love song dedicated to a couple in the audience celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary. Vocalist Kevin Jordan encouraged the crowd to create a space for the couple, forming a circle around them. As the audience illuminated the area with their phone flashlights, the couple began to dance, creating a touching moment shared between the band and the couple.
As it came to an end, Kevin declared that this truly was the last song, expressing their belief that encores are merely a cliché and a waste of time. Indeed, the metalcore bongo rendition featured bongos, adding an unexpected twist to conclude the evening. I thought that was funny and very humble. This Wild Life is currently touring alongside Young Culture and Belmont. Be sure to secure your ticket and experience the show. It promises to be an enjoyable evening, and with only a few weeks remaining, you won't want to miss this opportunity!
ความคิดเห็น