Editor’s Note: This article contains mild profanity.
Handstands, drum stick fights, a rush of punk rock and a vivid blend of sweaty bodies and rebel yells, New Politics raised their Thor hammer and plunged Echostage into a realm of electric hearts for their co-headlining Wilderness Politics tour with Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, The Griswolds and LOLO.
With the New York skyline behind them, the Brooklyn band emerged from the bellowing of angry, red lights and marched their way to the stage. Draped in the New Politics flag, which features three tally marks and one across it—representing the three band members and the fourth, the fans—lead singer David Boyd smiled and made the stage his empire.
Drummer Louis Vecchio, kept standing up and clapping his hands, his drum solos vibrating the skeletons of everyone present. Boyd break danced during the songs, his body a puppet to the music.
The hit “Everywhere I Go (Kings & Queens)” off their newly released album Vikings, cranked up the energy, the tension building as Boyd sang, “this one’s for my friends who don’t give a fuck,” and skyrocketing in a shout, “so if you don’t give a fuck, sing!”
At one point, Guitarist Søren Hansen, threw his guitar in the air and caught it, the crowd roaring and pumping their fists in the air as he continued playing nonchalantly.
“Tonight, you’re all perfect,” said the lead singer, his shirt half unbuttoned.
Perched like a god, he began to serenade the packed venue with “Tonight You’re Perfect,” the crowd beckoning him. He jumped into the crowd, several people keeping him aloft.
The energetic band showed the different sides to their punk roots, as Hansen played the piano and performed the anesthetizing song “Stardust” by himself, cocooned in the veil of cobalt blue lights and painting hopeful dreams across the canvas of the night.
Chris Whitehall, from The Griswolds, joined and reflected Boyd’s unstoppable intensity for “50 Feet Tall,” both singers circling each other, a joyous tangle of colliding worlds.
The Griswolds performed first—Whitehall in a ripped tiger-looking tank top. I couldn’t help but think that he was the Australian version Steven Tyler or David Lee Roth, complete with the bracelets and golden mane.
The four-piece indie rock band played a short set but hit all of their known tracks such as “16 Years,” “Beware the Dog” and “Right on Track.”
“We’re keeping it Australian tonight,” said Chris, as they played an upbeat and mesmerizing cover of Vance Joy’s infectious “Riptide.”
As they played “Mississippi” and the infectious “Heart of A Lion,” I had a flashback of junior year of high school when I first listened to the song and wrote a review on it for my school’s newspaper.
Now, two years later, I was in the presence of these five Aussie guys who, draped in neon lights, somehow have the ability to unravel the chains of people’s hearts.
A special moment of the night was when New Politics performed “Overcome,” Boyd calling everyone to put “their lights on” and Echostage beaming with the lights of people’s phones or real lighters, the hopeful lyrics breathing golden air into every lungs.
If it wasn’t for the T-shirt that I bought to commemorate the concert, I would’ve told myself I had imagined it all–the wonder at the power and talent of the musicians, the treasure chest of memories spilled, the overpowering feeling of immortality among the beautiful chaos.
Feature Photo Credit: New Politics performing at MTV’s Party In The Park during SDCC 2013. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia)
Karla Casique is a sophomore journalism major and can be reached at karlacasique@hotmail.com.
