Last year, I had the immense pleasure of seeing Vacations with Liv during their Tourzilla tour alongside The Last Dinosaurs. You can read about Liv’s experience of seeing them live here. When I heard they were coming back, I couldn’t resist the urge to see them in action again!
The barking went down at Brooklyn Steel, a venue with a photographer's dream lighting situation. The crowd slowly filed in, many wearing Tourzilla t-shirts, marking them as recurring offenders in the Vacations fiasco. However, plenty of first-timers were eager to see the band live. I overheard fans excitedly discussing their anticipation, some thrilled to finally catch the band after missing them last time.
Opening the show was Alex Lahey, an incredible Aussie artist who is actually part of the Vacations band this tour. Alex took the stage with nothing but a guitar, yet managed to have the entire crowd buzzing with excitement! Their bittersweet set was a perfect warm-up, leaving the audience wanting more.
Next up was Lunar Vacation, an American indie rock best friend band hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. You might know them from their hit song "Swimming" or their latest release "Sick." If you haven’t heard them yet, you should definitely give them a listen. Although I hadn’t heard of the band before, I was left a fan by the end of their set! The band, featuring lead singer Grace Repasky, lead guitarist Maggie Geeslin, bassist Matt Dobbs, drummer Connor Dowd, and pianist Matteo De Lurgio, completely overtook the stage. They played hit after hit, slowly entrancing everyone with their sonic genius. I am super glad I was able to witness their magic live and cannot wait for the release of their sophomore album Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire.
Finally, the time came for Vacations to take the stage. The lights dimmed and the words “NO PLACE LIKE HOME” were projected across the screen behind the stage. This tour’s theme was a vacation motif, and the stage setup reflected it perfectly with a vintage suitcase spilling clothes, a mini fridge, a coffee maker, and a vintage chair—giving off strong motel vacation vibes.
The band members—lead singer Campbell Burns, drummer Joseph Van Lier, bassist Jake Johnson, lead guitarist Nate Delizzotti, saxophonist/guitarist Alex Lahey, and pianist Gal Musette—came on stage one by one to roaring cheers and applause. They started their set, playing songs from their new album as well as some earlier releases. Despite the variety, the crowd knew every word and sang along. Throughout the night, the crowd kept up a continuous bark. The band took note and asked if this was a New York thing, leading to even more barking—and soon enough, they joined in too!
Before I knew it, the band was playing their final song and bidding their goodbyes. They performed the last track with the same energy and passion as the first, leaving us wishing it would never end. As someone once said, "All good things must come to an end." Eventually, the show concluded, and I found myself sitting in my car, marveling at how such an incredible experience had passed in what felt like no time at all.
All in all, Vacations and their openers put on a spectacular show filled with such incredible energy that I find myself humming the choruses of the songs I heard that night as I write this. I am deeply grateful to Vacations' team for allowing me the immense pleasure of being part of such a bark-tastic night! Catch Vacations on the rest of their tour while you still have a chance! Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience their electrifying performance live.
Alex Lahey
Lunar Vacation
Vacations
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