DAYGLOW @ HOUSE OF BLUES 10/8
Photography by Kate Kotlyar
Review by Sophia Blair
The energy at the House of Blues on Tuesday night reflected the charm and easy-going nature of the bands that took the stage. Sun Room, a surf-garage band hailing from Southern California, kicked off the night with their high-energy antics, treating fans — new and old — to a taste of their latest EP, Can’t Explain. The band, composed of Luke Asgian, Ashton Minnich, and Max Pinamonti, stepped onto the stage under sunny lighting, casually strolling in before launching straight into their first track, “Rumble.”
Their on-stage chemistry was clear as they signaled to each other throughout the set, showcasing a playful camaraderie that mirrored their California roots. They played “Just Yesterday” and “Can’t Explain” before shouting, “Boston, we’re excited to be here tonight, we’re gonna play some rock n’ roll,” immediately diving into their catchy anthem “Get Me Outta NYC.” Streams of green and red lights danced across the crowd, energizing the atmosphere as Sun Room jumped effortlessly from one song to the next.
Their sound, which has evolved from getting the cops called on them for playing too loudly at house shows to selling out rooms across the globe, resonated deeply with the audience. Well-known hit “Sol Del Sur” showcased their unique surfy sound, while their enthusiastic performance drew cheers from the crowd. Despite it being a Tuesday night, the House of Blues erupted in applause as Sun Room wrapped up their set with “Jackknife” and “Cadillac.”
As the lights dimmed, the crowd roared for headliner Dayglow or Sloan Struble, who sauntered on stage in the dark, exuding an effortless coolness that set the tone for the night. Launching into a slow rendition of “Junior Varsity,” that amped up into a high-energy rock experience, the energy was immediately palpable. The people were dancing. The synchronization of the lighting with each beat created a mesmerizing visual experience as streams of blue and red swirled around the audience like confetti. Dayglow’s casual attire mirrored the relaxed yet electric atmosphere, allowing the music and his magnetic moves to take center stage.
From the moment he stepped on stage, it was clear that Dayglow was in his element. He was joined by Colin Crawford on guitar, Brady Knippa on the drums, and Hunter on the bass. With a beaming smile and a playful attitude, he glided around the stage, dancing, and grooving as if he were having a personal jam session. “Boston, it’s so good to be back, I freaking love being here. We’re here to do one thing and one thing only, and that’s to rock n roll people let’s go!” he said before jumping into his widely and well-loved “Hot Rod.” Everyone sang along. Hot Rod was on his debut album, “Fuzzybrain,” which he wrote his freshman year of college at the University of Texas. He immediately found success and dropped out of college to follow his passion, and the love for his craft exudes out of every shred of his performance.
His performance was awe-striking. He is such an unbelievably talented artist and an even more engaging performer. Between “Then it all goes away” and “Fair Game,” Dayglow interacted with the crowd, noting, “Wow, there’s a lot of you here. Alright, let’s rock!” Each exclamation was met with cheers, building an electrifying rapport that made everyone feel like they were part of something special. He would occasionally embed “Boston” in his lyrics and constantly exclaim, “Heck yeah, Boston!” his enthusiasm ignited the crowd even further.
His energetic presence was matched by his captivating stage design, where flashing teal lights illuminated the guitarist and bassist as they played two of his ten new songs, “What People Really Do” and “Every Little Thing I Say I Do,” off his new album, “Dayglow,” released about a month ago.
As he transitioned into “Medicine,” the energy reached new heights. Dayglow’s guitar riffs were electrifying, and the seamless change in lighting complemented the song’s dynamic shifts, drawing the audience deeper into the experience. His dance moves became more exuberant as he kicked his leg out, gliding effortlessly across the stage—an embodiment of someone born to perform.
When he giddily revealed his shirt reading “Boston Glow Party,” a play on the Boston Tea Party, the crowd whooped and hollered. “I’ve really been looking forward to this tour, specifically Boston. You guys always have such wonderful crowds,” Dayglow said as he was handed an acoustic guitar. He played “Crying On The Dancefloor,” but in his words, he kind of “Shania Twain’ed it.”
He then played “She Does.” and took five minutes to talk to the crowd about his music journey and express his gratitude. He said “thank you” many times throughout the set, attributing his life as a “whirlwind of awesome stuff” to his fans. “I’m gonna get sappy for a second, but seriously, if it weren’t for you guys being here and believing in me, none of this would be possible, so seriously, thank you. Thank you for coming to the show, buying a ticket, and being here in person. I know it’s not easy, I know it’s not cheap, it means the world that we can all be here together in person.” Dayglow grew immensely in popularity during COVID, so this was the emergence of his fame coming to physical fruition for the first time. On that sentimental note, he sang a slow, acoustic rendition of “Fuzzybrain,” the song that started it all.
Dayglow’s effortless ability to convey emotion through movement was particularly striking. With each riff of “This Feeling,” he embodied the music—a subtle bop of his head, a sassy shimmy of his shoulders, or a flourish of his fingers conveyed his connection to the rhythm. It was unclear who was having more fun — the artist or the audience — but it didn’t matter; the shared joy in the room was palpable. He would jam back-to-back with his bassist and never once stopped dancing as he sang.
As Dayglow closed out the night, the energy never faltered. Before his last song, he shouted, “Let’s freaking dance!” and ran in circles around the stage as it flashed rainbow lights. The colors swirled around the room, creating a kaleidoscope of light and sound. He performed with his heart and soul, and once he left the stage, the crowd begged for more. He came back out on stage, saying, “We’re not done with you yet, Boston!” and gave us started with “False Direction. He was having too much fun for just one encore song… before his last song, “Run the World!!!” he said, “Let’s blow your little minds, and let’s freaking rock!” He used every bit of energy he had left to absolutely rock out with rainbow lights flashing, his entire body absolutely engrossed in the music and the movement, energized by the crowd.
The combination of Sun Room’s surf energy and Dayglow’s vibrant energy left everyone in high spirits. I was lucky enough to meet Dayglow after the show and asked him if he had anything he’d like to say to fans tonight. He leaves us with a short and sweet, “I hope you enjoyed the show!” I hope he knows that we did.
