Sylvan Esso
Words: Sean Moore / Photos: Kenneth Coles
The reopening of Thompson’s Point signifies that outdoor concert season and summer is upon us. With a new, gigantic stage and the rest of the venue looking wonderful after the long cold months of hibernation, it was time for live music. I could not think of a better band than Sylvan Esso to open the season and break in the new stage. The duo (Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn) from Durham, North Carolina brought their electro-pop dance music to Portland for a very happy crowd that danced and drank and sang along a lot. Scanning the crowd of almost 4,000 people, I saw a wide variety of fans ranging from the very young to old, but one thing they all had in common, they all came to have a great time. It was a rather cold and windy night, but as soon as Sylvan Esso hit the stage and the beat dropped for the opening song “What If” from their 2020 album Free Love, it was like everyone forgot how cold they were. The crowd gathered on the grassy field was bouncing to the trip-hop beats and singing along.
The band had some ground to cover, since this was their first time back since playing the State Theatre in 2018. Every song got a positive response from the crowd, even their new tune “Sunburn.” I loved hearing “Die Young,” “Radio,” “Numb,” and “Coffee” just as much as the rest of the audience. Their sound of synth-pop reminds me of Matt & Kim as well as another duo Whitney. When you listen to it you can imagine it blasting through large speakers in venues fit for rock and roll. I loved the moments during the night when Sanborn would drop a beat and then there would be a false start or stop and the beat would pick back up, keeping the crowd on their toes. It felt like Sylvan Esso brought the club culture to this massive outdoor venue. And of course they had to play “Make It Easy” as the night came to a close.
The massive stage belonged to the duo with a backdrop of lights flickered to certain beats and varied in colors of the rainbow. No photos or album art, it was unnecessary, all the attention was on Amelia as she sang and danced. Sanborn’s instruments were in the center of the stage and he stayed stationed there as he produced all the music and beats from a variety of electronic devices. Amelia’s voice had a smooth, drippy tone to it that was equal parts soothing and trance-inducing and truly commanding. The chemistry between Meath and Sanborn is undeniable when you see them live, as they both thoroughly enjoy hyping the crowd and bringing their music on the road. This was the lead-in show to their stop in North Adams, MA for the Solid Sound Festival before they take a month off and hitting the road again with Odesza.
The band did not disappoint and Thompson’s Point is officially open.
