The Backseat Lovers are an absolute staple in the indie rock genre. With hit albums When We Were Friends and Elevator Days, the four young adults in the band help define indie rock, and are truly one of the bands that the indie rock fan community (myself included) prides themselves on most.
With a beautifully eloquent stage, the quartet hit the stage at 9:30 Club recently.
I don’t know that I’ve ever personally witnessed such a reflective relationship between a crowd and band. Joshua Harmon, the band’s lead vocalist, was no stranger to his fans. Audience members were packed shoulder to shoulder between the walls of the club, and were bursting at the seams of the barricade. Making direct eye contact with fans, and even personally gesturing to people in the pit, Harmon, as well as other band members, undoubtedly made the show unforgettable for their biggest DC fans.
Setlist:
- Intro Jam
- Pool House (my personal go-to song of theirs)
- Pictures
- Just a Boy
- Growing, Dying (unreleased)
- Davy Crochet
- Heavy
- Out of Tune
- Watch Your Mouth
- Dugout
- Kilby Girl
- Know Your Name (unreleased)
- Maple Syrup
- Still a Friend
- Sinking Ship
Watch The Backseat Lovers live recording of “Kilby Girl” on YouTube.
The band used a pastel lighting pallet to accentuate their musical sound as well as their unique stage backdrop, and set a brilliant mood at the 9:30 Club on Feb. 28. From here, the band will continue on their Turning Point Tour by stopping at a few more cities down the East Coast, before hopping back over the the West Coast, where they originated, for a final few shows.
Listen to ”Pool House” by The Backseat Lovers on Spotify:
The Backseat Lovers hold an awfully bold punch for such a tranquil looking group of young men, and are more than worth checking out. As said in the rundown of The Backseat Lovers’ setlist, “Pool House” was my definite favorite of the show, but if you’re looking for a band to fall head-over-heels for, a few more of their most addictive songs include “Maple Syrup,” “Watch Your Mouth,” and their electrifying “Kilby Girl.”
If you’re anything like me, and are an absolute sucker for some great indie rock, you won’t regret driving headfirst into The Backseat Lovers.
Here are some photos of The Backseat Lovers performing at 9:30 Club on Feb. 28, 2022. All photos copyright and courtesy of Katie Child.
