by Ziggy Merritt

Nightclubs are a weird thing for me. I always feel like a huge dork when I show up on time as most people trickle in around the 10:30-11 mark to get sufficiently boozed up for the main act. Or at least this is the impression I have taken to heart after the few occasions I’ve frequented these establishments to see the lineup of the evening. On this occasion I made my inaugural visit to the Coda Nightclub, following up with an interview I recently wrote with the special guest of the evening, Gavin Turek.

Her most recent tour supporting synthpop darlings Goldroom is her longest yet, with this past stop in Philadelphia being her first as a performer. It should be no surprise that the dimmed chambers of Coda were a fitting debut for her talents though the initially sparse crowd on the night in question left a bit to be desired..

An hour and change separated the time I walked onto the dancefloor to the time, Gavin along with DJ, Val Fleury premiered beneath the darkened stage lights. True to her word she was unable to stay still for more than a few brief moments during her entire set, not that anyone should ever want her to remain static. Her mixture of dance and smooth 90s R&B along with a retro disco vibe remained as tightly coordinated as any of her previous appearances, with this set following the style and sound of her latest EP with producer TOKiMONSTA, You’re Invited. Much of the material from that album was performed onstage including the lead single, “Surrender” along with a remixed version of her summer single, “Don’t Fight It” and her 2014 single, “Remember.”

Despite her infectious and spunky attitude most of those in attendance remained resigned to the cordoned-off section of the bar to the right, but even this hiccup in the night’s festivities did little to dampen her spirits. Goldroom’s following set kept up with the momentum that Gavin had succeeded in igniting as they memorably performed their synth-laden catalog along with covers of “You (Ha Ha Ha)” and “Mykonos” by Charli XCX and Fleet Foxes respectively. So while I still feel like and very likely am a huge dork for showing up the moment the doors open and even if Gavin’s first session within our fair city was a tad underwhelming, the night shouldn’t be seen as a letdown but instead something more hopeful and promising for a star on the rise.