Dizzy and SYML at The Chapel

Weaving through San Francisco on BART and MUNI, I arrived at a building that didn’t look like much from the outside except for the classic-looking sign announcing SYML and Dizzy. When I walked in, I was welcomed by the red walls, balcony, and the arched ceiling adorned with a huge disco ball. I was excited to witness my first show at The Chapel.

While waiting for Dizzy — opening for SYML — to come on, I was pleasantly surprised to see these two lesser-known groups fill up the venue. Dizzy, from Toronto, was comprised of lead singer Katie Munshaw with brothers Charlie, Alex and Mackenzie Spencer on back-up vocals and drums, bass, and guitar. Obviously excited to perform, the group jumped into the spotlight ready to go. From the beginning, it was clear that Munshaw lives for her music. Throwing her body with exaggerated movements, it seemed like she was living her dream when performed songs like “Joshua,” written about her own life experiences. Munshaw’s voice has a smooth alto tone (not far off from reminding me of Lorde’s), which blended well with the slow, soft music in the background. Because the new group had a relatively small repertoire, they decided to cover Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.” Despite the attempt to bring the crowd together over a more popular song, it was slightly disappointing when the guitarist did not play the solo expected at the end of the song. Overall, I felt that the band was talented, but the three brothers were more of an accompaniment to Munshaw’s performance. It was nice to see, though, how grateful they were to play in front of an audience, and when members of the crowd yelled “I love this song!” they looked thrilled to have gained new fans.

When SYML first came on stage, I couldn’t find him. SYML is the solo project of Brian Fennell, previously in Seattle band Barcelona. Wearing black from head to toe, he silently walked onstage with a fellow keyboardist to sit and suddenly play his music. It was awkward – in the middle of the stage stood the mic, yet no one was there. Projected on stage was SYML’s symbol, leading me to wonder if this artist from Issaquah, Washington was aspiring to be the next Prince. Despite acknowledging that his music is “sad and depressing,” he complimented the crowd on their ability to sway with his sounds. In between sets, SYML would keep to himself or quietly mumble to the crowd. At first I was unsure of Pete’s role, with Fennell already on the keyboard. But after a few songs, Fennell transitioned to acoustic guitar in front of the main microphone. As the show went on, he became more invested in the crowd – going from a mere “thanks” after a song to the story of a marriage proposal during his New York performance when introducing “Better.” His sound was slow and melancholic, with electronic background beats accompanied by his high voice. If you’re looking for a gentle listen, his song “Where’s My Love,” which spent 20 weeks on Billboard’s Hot Rocket Songs list, was a staple enjoyed by the crowd. SYML is definitely a mood, and it seemed like most of the crowd was enjoying it.  

Though it’s not my personal favorite genre of music, I was glad to see a crowd supporting SYML – to each their own. Still, the concert made me realize how under appreciated openers can be. I’ve often found myself arriving at a show midway through the opener, assuming they won’t interest me. On this Friday night, I found myself enjoying the opener more than the headliner. Dedicating your life to your music, even if it means opening for a lesser-known artist, is always impressive. It was especially exciting to see the joy on the faces of Dizzy’s members when hearing that their music was listened to and appreciated. This has made me think that in the future, maybe I should take the extra hour to see the opener  – if not to ensure I don’t miss the headliner, to help support the dreams of those following their passions.

Written by Claire Winthrop