July 13, just four days prior to the release of his latest album, Bryce Avary and his one-man musical phenomenon, The Rocket Summer, packed a local Salt Lake City venue.The tour was a short stint, designed to hit up a few of Avary’s favorite places around the nation. In The Venue was one of those priority stops for him, as he had commented earlier in the year while in town with The Early November.
Supporting the release of Do You Feel, the third full-length recording by the band, The Rocket Summer brought friends Daphne Loves Derby and Echo Screen along for the ride.
Echo Screen started the show off on the right foot with their infectious rock and a cover of the Foo Fighters’ song “Monkey Wrench.”
Due to issues at the door, I was not able to get in to really enjoy the band. The tour manager left the wrong list at the door, and I had to wait for him to get back to prove I was invited to the show. But Echo Screen's energy still translated into a good time, even from outside the venue.
Washington state’s Daphne Loves Derby, who were actually partly responsible for getting the issues at the door cleared up, put on an excellent show following Echo Screen.
With their infectious brand of pop and rock, and sampling primarily from their two most recent releases (Good Night Witness Light and On The Strength of All Convinced), the band really got the packed house moving.
Led by Kenny Choi’s soft vocals flowing over driving beats and a continuous stream of guitar rhythms, no one could deny Daphne Loves Derby put on a superb show. They even mingled with the crowd during the main event as part of a corporate meet and greet.
Bryce Avary and crew put on a classic Rocket Summer performance. The band started with an extended intro to “Break It Out,” the opening track on the new record, until Avary joined them on stage, to a throng of cheering fans, and got the set going.
Though the primary purpose of the tour was to promote Do You Feel, The Rocket Summer did not limit themselves to the album, shuffling between a number of songs from the band’s repertoire, including the always enjoyable “Brat Pack” from Hello, Good Friend and the single from the new record, “So Much Love.”
Finishing the set with the closing track from the new release, “So, In This Hour…,” Avary and crew capped off a driving evening of energetic performances and got the release of the new Rocket Summer record off on the right foot.
Both Daphne Loves Derby and The Rocket Summer are currently out on some dates for the Warped Tour. The Rocket Summer will be returning this fall with The Academy Is… as part of the Sleeping With Giants Tour.
