Good Morning and Good Night: an evening of Indie Rock

After scaling the stairway into the Starline Social Club, I was greeted by dim, purple lighting cast upon a wide room, with early attendees of the night scattered throughout the space. Friends and couples lined the room in lowly lit booths along the perimeter of the venue—united in conversations and eagerness.

The floor surrounding the intimate stage in the corner was sparse at first, a few pairs of chuck taylors and doc martens stood here and there, yet, the room quickly transformed to a crowded audience swaying shoulder to shoulder, attentive to the first act of the night.

The evening of February 28th began with the promising rising indie rocker, Rose Droll. Her voice alone is enough to mesmerize intrigued onlookers, yet, the artist’s multifaceted musical capabilities can hardly be ignored, specifically her wide range of instrumentation found in her work. Droll’s most recent album, Your Dog, released in 2018, was entirely self-recorded and produced, which resulted in an increasingly captivating and unique work of art. The record includes electronic synth solos and commanding vocals that leave listeners fascinated—this effect notably translated to her live audience as her solo stage presence and angelic voice was prominent enough to envelop the entire venue.

The show continued with the band, Blues Lawyer, that delivered upbeat and fast paced ballads, guitar heavy solos reverberating throughout the steady-filling space. The growing crowd found the steady bass line irresistible; nearly every attendee nodded along or tapped their feet to the beat.

Following Blues Lawyer was Los Angeles based duo, Cones. The two brothers were evidently comfortable on stage, engaging with the audience between experimental psychedelia and pop songs. Many musical numbers were off their first album, Pictures of Pictures released in 2019, such as ‘Laugh of the Party’ and ‘Inner Voice,’ to name a few. Eventually, they bid the audience farewell and left the crowd awaiting the headlining duo.

Once the soundcheck was completed, Good Morning rushed to the stage, blasting ‘Can’t Get You out of My Head’ by Kylie Minogue over the roar of the audience. Similar to a boxer entering a ring with their signature song, the goofy duo opened with persistent energy that set the tone for the remainder of the evening.

Stefan Blair and Liam Parsons have been friends since high school and have made music together for just as long. Originally from Australia, their recording project has gained immense popularity, their blend of scrappy guitar, bedroom indie, and lofi pop capturing attention from artists such as Tyler the Creator and members of The Internet.

The band, joined by James Macleod and Joe Alexander in a live setting, all shared effortless chemistry; the melodies produced onstage felt personal as if allowing each individual in the audience to join their high school friendship. After hearing a crowd member yell, “play faster and louder!” the duo matched the audience’s playfulness.

“That’s an amazing heckle… I’d also like to request that back to the crowd,” responded Blair.

Many songs were fan favorites—everybody in the room began to sway to the familiar chords of ‘Warned You’ and nod their heads to the nostalgic guitar solo of ‘Don’t Come Home Today’ off their first album release in 2014 titled Shawcross. The band also introduced many newer songs into the setlist, primarily those off their most recent 2019 album, Basketball Breakups. The emotionally raw atmosphere remained consistent throughout their performance, the intimate setting and devoted fans furthering the sincerity and engagement between both artists and audience.

As the night ultimately drew to a close, many audience members approached the members of Good Morning, thanking them for a wonderful night of music. I witnessed firsthand the humble nature of both Parsons and Blair, sharing an immense appreciation for those who attended the show, cultivating a welcoming environment for their music to evolve and thrive. I was grateful to experience their music in such an intimate setting, as I anticipate their fanbase will continue to grow as it has for the past several years. Regardless of the size, however, I am confident Good Morning will never fail to maintain personal, heartfelt performances to their dedicated fans, providing a good night for all who attend.