It must be gratifying for a group of performing musicians to see and hear an audience singing back word for word, especially to songs just recently released.

Two established indie rock entities recently saw a room of ticketholders in full and eager support for a terrific double bill that amounted to a can’t-miss slate of music at Comet Ping Pong, where patrons can get a living room view of some of their favorite artists on the rise.

Headlined by Bonny Doon, a Detroit-based group in action since 2014 and rapidly growing in popularity, and with support by John Andrews & The Yawns, the well-known project of the New Jersey-born band leader who has helped several other outfits to success, the evening was a splendid treat for fans of indie and folk rock music.

Listen to Bonny Doon’s newest album, Let There Be Music, via Spotify:

Both these groups are promoting new releases, with Bonny Doon dropping its third album, Let There Be Music, this month, and Andrews and The Yawns releasing its fourth, Love For The Underdog, in late April.

As fresh as the songs on these two records are, they provided the bulk of the night’s tunes at Comet Ping Pong on June 22, and attuned attendees made both bands fell appreciated in the intimate space, echoing back the lyrics to some of these terrific tracks.

Listen to John Andrews & The Yawns’ newest album, Love For The Underdog, via Spotify:

Bonny Doon Setlist

Crooked Creek
Naturally
Saved
On My Mind
I Am Here (I Am Alive)
Roxanne
San Francisco
Let There Be Music
Part of Me
Famous Piano
I See You
Long Wave
A Lotta Things

Encore
I Saw The Light

Here are 35mm, home-developed images of Bonny Doon and John Andrews & The Yawns performing at Comet Ping Pong in Washington DC the night of June 22, 2023. All photos copyright and courtesy of Casey Vock.

John Andrews & The Yawns