In the midst of a tour across Europe, Jay Som took a stop at the famous Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, their first date in a quick visit to the UK.
Jay Som
Reminiscent of the glittering sounds of Mild High Club, Gus Dapperton, and Rex Orange County, Leeds locals Van Houten took the stage first that night. Twinkling organ-esque synth and bell-clear guitar tones coalesce in songs like “Palm Trees” and “Little Dreamer,” treating us to a sunny and peaceful introduction to the night.
It’s been a dream of the lead singer since he was 13 to play the Brudenell, and it seems to be a theme for the night; it’s each band’s first time playing one of the UK’s best venues (if not the best).
Next up is Lazy Day, Londoners offering groovy dream-grunge. Headed by founder Tilly Scantlebury, each instrument stands out in soothing chiming clarity. It’s more soft sounds for our ears, on top of a lovely choreographed in-unison swaying to “Hiccup.” They close on their new single, “Weird Cool,” featuring sharp vocals layered over their signature dreamy guitar, which is available on the novelty of an orange flexidisk (appropriately weird and cool).
Jay Som is Melina Duterte and her band, an outfit out of the San Francisco Bay Area offering intimate music in both its bedroom-pop atmosphere and its wise and thoughtful lyricism. They open with the older “Turn Into,” a melancholic kaleidoscope of emotions, and the epic heavy cymbals and guitar in “Ghost.”
“It’s been a crazy week,” Duterte says on their hectic European tour schedule over the last couple of weeks, “lots of zooming in the sky.” The band is celebrating the release of “O.K., Meet Me Underwater” and “Pirouette,” two singles recently shared that were written for her last album Everybody Works but didn’t make it onto the final tracklist. Duterte also tells us that she first heard about tourmates Lazy Day five years ago on Soundcloud, and lauds the ability to make friendships in that way.
The last half of the set is introduced by a seemingly chaotic but no doubt impressively-planned jam as a segway into the softer “I Think You’re Alright” and the crowd favorite “The Bus Song,” whose hook-laden chorus is met by enthusiastic singing from the audience. They close on most recent single “Pirouette” with sweeping instruments and a sound that seems almost ready to fall apart in its chaotic swirling.
Photos and review by: Francesca Tirpak