Sylvan Esso @ Bomb Factory, Dallas, TX

Words and photos by Nick Paruch

Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, aka Sylvan Esso, have grown musically and so has their audience. Touring on the strength of their sophomore album titled What Now, a sonic tone-packed with hooks and beats that make you get out of your seat. The record gained Sylvan Esso its first Grammy Award nomination and proved they had mainstream viability. That was very evident by the massive crowd at the Bomb Factory in Dallas. Sanborn commented, “Wow! There are 3,000 of you here on a Tuesday night, you know, since day one, you guys have been a hub for our band. We love coming here.” The audience wholly agreed with enthusiastic applause and cheers.

Meath dominated the stage in platform shoes and lead a massive dance party while singing, swaying and strutting to the pulsing beats being masterfully spawned from Sanborn’s mix-board gear. Their energetic vibes definitely connected with the crowd as they spent the evening singing and dancing.

The pop duo did not disappoint and played all the favorites like “Die Young,” “Coffee,” “Hey Mami” and “Radio” but the tune that received the biggest reaction was their latest release, “PARAD(w/m)E,” a stand-alone single about a post-apocalyptic dance party.

Throughout the night Meath and Sanborn pushed and pulled the sonic energies up and down, occasionally giving the loving fans a moment to catch their breath and then taking it to “11” with pivotal dance choruses and leaving the audience screaming for more. But all great experiences must come to an end and while this one lasted 90 minutes, the memories will last forever.

Photos of the show are below: