With many modern indie-rock groups beginning to trend towards the folk side of the genre, Almost Monday is pushing the genre further towards the groovier edges, embracing indie-pop (newest single “Lost”) and surf rock (“She Likes Sports”, “Never Enough”).
Their recent performance at Avondale Brewing in Birmingham, supporting The Band Camino, was a far cry from the typical concert performance, with lead singer Dawson ditching the stand-still attitude of many rock frontmen and embodying a more dance-heavy, showy personality, moving rhythmically across the entire stage in between guitar solos and choruses. It was the kind of performance I consider perfect for an opener, so full of energy and style that it’s nearly impossible for the crowd to stay still. The perfect warm-up for the pop-rock group following them and a great example of the energy they work to capture throughout their catalog.
Almost Monday’s spirited production was also key to overcoming the apathy of an outdoor venue and its more spread out crowd – where sweaty basement shows and crowded indoor venues can sometimes force an audience to be more active (or at least make it seem that way), Avondale’s more laid-back space can make it hard to engage a crowd. That’s another reason why it was perfect for Almost Monday to bring their all to the show, to combat the chilled vibes of the venue and get the entire space moving.
Opening for Almost Monday was Alina, a college-age pop artist from Nashville who uses the lighter, more relatable lyrical style of pop to communicate the heavy, yet fleeting emotions of young adult life, communicating simple romantic problems with the strong bite of a much older artist. It’s a style akin to artists like Olivia Rodrigo or Renee Rapp, whose music inspires the release of emotions more than the acceptance of them.
You can view the full gallery of WVUA’s coverage of the show here.
Hi! My name is Jake Bennett, I'm a film and computer science student at UA. I'm also a member of WVUA's speciality show Loser Radio, an avid fan of indie rock, and a social media manager for artists!
