Greer Live in San Francisco

Greer is a four piece ensemble from Los Angeles, California, whose presence has been cemented in memories since 2014. As Gen Z’s favorite niche Internet celebrities, seeing them live at the August Hall in San Francisco was a special experience.

The concert setting was intimate, but the energy from the crowd was palpable. The stage was adorned with two cardboard Halloween decorations—it was November third, but that didn’t stop the band from celebrating. The band’s bassist, Seth, was also seemingly in a costume, with his pink hair shaped into horns.

Josiah at August Hall, Photo by Dorothy Eck

Seth at August Hall Photo by Dorothy Eck

The opening band, Momma, hail from Los Angeles but have recently moved to New York. They were boisterous with loud, grungy rhythms and a sensational stage presence. When their set ended, they left the stage, and waded through the crowd as multiple people approached them, applauding their performance. They’re a band that demands to be seen live, and I can’t wait for their next tour.

Momma Opening for Greer at August Hall, Photo by Dorothy Eck

When it came time for Greer to perform, the crowd immediately erupted with excitement. They opened with “Little Echo,” and the crowd hardly took a breath before they began to sing along. Josiah, the lead singer, was ample with crowd interactions and was one of the highlights for me. He knew how to banter with the crowd and genuinely took time to hear what various people had to say. At one point, someone was trying to get an orange beanie to him (his signature item, missing from tonight’s set) to which he said, “just throw it.” It made it on stage and everyone proceeded to clap and cheer. 

Another song the band played, titled “Way Out,” had just come out that night. Josiah laughed and said, “we released this song in secret so when you go home you know what to listen to.”

The drummer, Lucas, was entrancing to watch. Unlike his counterparts in the band who consistently engaged with the crowd, he seemed completely enraptured in what he was doing. He was fully devoted to every song, and I could see how much performing them meant to him. As a long time fan of his, it was surreal to see him, especially in a non-comedic setting doing something he is so clearly passionate about.

Sethen Backer at August Hall, Photo by Dorothy Eck

Josiah Leading the Crowd, Photo by Dorothy Eck

Seth, the bassist, also had a commanding stage presence—always moving and dancing, even as he played the bass. His outfit and stage presence combined made for a performance you couldn’t turn away from.

Corbin was the band’s multi-instrumentalist, occasionally switching over to the keys. When observing him one could easily see how much every thing he did altered the song and made each track feel whole. 

The “closing song” was a cover of Mitski’s “Francis Forever.” As someone who failed to successfully purchase Mitski tickets, I was very elated to vicariously live that dream through their phenomenal performance. 

It was a great show in San Francisco, and I am so ecstatic to have seen them live in person since I have been following them on social media since I was a freshman in high school. The energy was alive, the crowd was attentive, and the band was nothing short of charismatic.

Written by Jax Samsell

Photos by Dorothy Eck