Written and Photographed by Liv FoltinyWalking along V St. NW in Washington, D.C., one could easily miss the 9:30 Club. With its brick facade and lack of any conspicuous signage, the 9:30 Club looks like any old building in the city to those unfamiliar with it; however, upon entering the venue, it’s apparent that isn’t the case. From the concert posters taped on doors and throughout the halls to a back room filled with an expansive collection of albums, there is no denying the music and memories that dwell within the building. This past Tuesday (10/15), the sounds and stories of the 9:30 Club continued to grow as four different bands took to the stage, including Palaye Royale (the headliner) and Weathers—the two bands I was there for. Being a fan of Palaye Royale and having seen them at the TLA in Philadelphia two years ago, I had an idea of how their performance would be: energetic, passionate, and full of intimate interactions with the crowd. When it came to weather, I didn’t exactly know what to expect. Despite being a fan of some of their music and following the band on Facebook, I had never seen them live and, in comparison to Palaye Royale, wasn’t very knowledgeable about them.
One thing that was undeniably clear by the end of their set, though, was that Weathers’ lively stage presence perfectly complimented that of Palaye Royale. As the second band to perform, Weathers walked onto the stage fairly early in the night and, as a result, was limited to playing fewer than ten songs; nevertheless, the band members made the most of their time. Cameron Boyer (lead vocalist), whose movements across the stage ranged from erratic to fluid, commanded the crowd’s attention through vivid facial expressions and hand gestures, as well as his occasional kicks in the air and carrying the mic stand. Meanwhile, Cameron Olsen (lead guitarist) and Brennen Bates (bassist) made themselves known via swaying, headbanging, and quick movements while Christian Champion (drummer) effortlessly twirled his drumsticks and fervently played, only pausing for a moment when Boyer went over to him to sing on the mic together. Weathers carried this energy throughout their set and, after thanking and expressing their gratitude to the crowd, allowed it to culminate during their final song of the night, “C’est la vie” (which I was excited to hear live). Following Weathers’ departure from the stage, Boyer made his way to the merchandise stand to spend some time with fans. From chatting and taking pictures with concertgoers to giving hugs and signing merchandise, Boyer’s love and appreciation for Weathers’ fans was on full display, especially when he decided to stay out in the crowd longer than he originally planned. When coupled with the band giving it their all onstage, Boyer’s amiable interactions with fans evinced how Weathers’ connection with others went beyond the stage; it indicated how the band members have successfully established a place for themselves in the music industry. Additionally, it made me feel like I should listen to more of the band’s discography and, hopefully, see them again in the future.
Around 9:30 pm, the house lights dimmed as the members of Palaye Royale took their places on stage, and, within a matter of seconds, the darkness retreated while the stage lit up, revealing a custom LED fixture bearing the words “Death or Glory,” the title of Palaye Royale’s fifth (and most recent) album. Opening with “Nightmares,” Palaye Royale wasted no time getting things going. Imbued with dynamic energy and passion, Palaye Royale’s performance demonstrated how they undoubtedly know how to put on a show. Utilizing the entire stage, Remington Leith (lead vocalist) and Sebastian Danzig (lead guitarist) glided across both levels of the stage, jumped around, climbed on speakers, and interacted with their bandmates in addition to the crowd before them. Emerson Barrett (drummer), immersed in playing, remained behind his drums for most of the set, with the only exception being when he and Logan Baudean (bassist) switched places for a song or two. Even though each member irrefutably contributed to the show onstage and the space just before it, it was Remington who made sure their performance extended throughout nearly the entire venue by launching himself into the audience twice as well as scaling the venue’s structural supports and running around on the second floor. Every time he unleashed his boldness, Remington had everyone’s eyes following him, prompting enthusiastic cheering from the crowd. Besides having mastered the technical skills that correlate with artistic showmanship, the members of Palaye Royale also know how to connect with their fans on an emotional level. They achieve this through not only their lyrics but also their communication with the people at their concerts; this was evident when Sebastian took a moment to thank fans for supporting Palaye Royale and express how, because of them, the band is able to exist and do everything it does (in addition to being able to tell negative people to “fuck off”). The most poignant moment of the night, however, occurred moments before the band played “Fever Dream,” the title song of their fourth album. If you follow Remington, Sebastian, and/or Emerson on social media, you know that the past year has been extremely difficult for them. From their mom’s diagnosis and subsequent battle with stage 4 cancer to losing her earlier this year, the guys have experienced a tremendous amount of heartbreak, which Remington touched upon during his introduction to the song. In a heartfelt statement, he lovingly expressed how their performance of “Fever Dream” was dedicated to their mom, Stephanie Rachel (who would be immensely proud of them). Including many newer songs, such as “Addicted to the Wicked & Twisted” and “Dark Side of the Silver Spoon” (my top two favorites on Death or Glory), Palaye Royale’s set had bits from each of their eras. Concluding with an encore of “Dead To Me,” “Lonely,” and “Mr. Doctor Man,” Palaye Royale wrapped things up a little before 11 p.m., leaving fans to their own devices; some began to line up for the upcoming VIP meet and greet while others hung out, not ready to remove themselves from the glory still presiding in the venue. Be sure to check out Palaye Royale’s latest album, “Death or Glory”, wherever you stream music!
Playa Royale
Weathers
