Photographs by Sarah Rix.
The St. Lucia concert at the Danforth Music Hall felt like you were being hit with a tidal wave of pop goodness. When the Night Comes Again Tour turned each city into a ’80s -themed tropical paradise. Thanks to their cinematic, synth-pop tunes, fans of the Brooklyn-based outfit were able to escape from Toronto’s chilly weather for one night.
Pop innovators Vacationer kick the night off with their breezy island tunes. Led by Kenny Vasoli (of The Starting Line fame), Vacationer jammed out to their hits “The Wild Life,” “Paradise Waiting,” and “Everybody Knows”. The band’s refreshing sound will have you longing for summer nights and fruity cocktails. Those who were lucky enough to catch them can agree Vacationer did a stellar job warming up the crowd for the night’s headliner.
Before St. Lucia stepped on stage, Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” can be heard on the speakers as the lights dimmed. The members of St. Lucia entered and quickly got into position. Within seconds, the venue became a perfect ode to ’80s pop. The audience was struck with flashes of pink and teal as the band opens up with “Cold Case” and “Before the Dive”. It didn’t take long to get the crowd moving to the quintet’s plush beats and visually pleasing atmosphere. The energy on stage was contagious with jumping, clapping, and endless choruses for tracks like “Elevate,” “September,” and “We Got It Wrong”.
Jean-Philip Grobler continues to sweep audience away with his amazing vocals. His voice would soar, hitting each note accurately. And the rest of the band’s performance was equally good. Although the tour was in support of When the Night, St. Lucia was also building anticipation for their sophomore record. They introduce the crowd to soul-R&B inspired tuned “Love Somebody” which quickly became a hit with fans, and saved the ’80s-infused electronica “Stay” as part of their encore.
St. Lucia may be fresh to the music scene, but their live shows already have a timeless quality. They manage to leave fans with much to look forward too, highly anticipating what the band does next. For 2015, St. Lucia’s follow up to their debut record is definitely going to be the highlight of the year.
