Review of Dayglow concert at First Avenue

On October 27, 2021, Dayglow performed at First Avenue, presented by Radio K. The indie-pop artist did not disappoint. 

Firstly, the Dayglow crowd was colorful and laid-back. Despite the age ranges from highschool age to middle-aged, everyone fit the aesthetics, retro-pastel “day at the beach”.  

Openers, courtship, set the scene for an up-beat concert. Their 30-minute set featured  some of their popular songs such as “Tell Me Tell Me” and “Sunroof”. The band also performed a version of “Say So” by Doja Cat, that really got the crowd amped up. A few minutes after courtship, 22 year old Texan Sloan Struble, aka Dayglow, transported the audience from October in Minnesota to July in California. His upbeat attitude, exciting setlist, and warmly colored lights seemed straight out of San Diego.

On stage, the neon light backdrop filled the entire room. There seemed to be no choice but to fully immerse oneself into the concert. Dayglow’s setlist included songs from his 2018 debut album “Fuzzybrain” as well as his new sophomore album “Harmony House”. Each track carried similar nostalgic, ’80s pop-esq feelings. They describe growing up and the processes of maturing. Highlights of the concert were “Can I Call You Tonight ” and “Hot Rod”, two of Dayglow’s most famous songs, especially on Tik-Tok. Each of them created a care-free atmosphere where everyone knew the lyrics and let the music move their bodies. 

Struble’s performance felt welcoming and warm. When he addressed the audience, he was relatable and kind, even stopping the concert to sing happy birthday to one of the audience members. The best moment of the night was the last song, the encore. When it seemed the fun was coming to an end, Dayglow returned onstage to sing one last classic, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears For Fears. The intro of the song was instantly recognizable and the crowd erupted with ecstatic screams.  

Overall, the Dayglow concert felt surreal. It was classic, upbeat, mellow, and California.