Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater Berkeley 7/12/2018

It was an overcast July evening in Berkeley for the unlikely bill of Kamasi Washington and Sylvan Esso at The Greek Theater there on the UC campus. 

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Not even a year has passed since Northern Carolina's Sylvan Esso played two nights not too far away at The Fox Theater in Oakland and now they were packing them in at a venue nearly 4 times that capacity.  

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

 An early crowd was there for the opening act Kamasi Washington, the funky jazz saxophonist who took a night off from touring the Music Festival circuit and only that night, for that one show.  Sylvan Esso has a different opener almost every night of their Summer Tour including Phoebe Bridgers, Local Natives and playing with David Byrne at the Xponential Festival. I was a little surprised to hear a bunch of the early birds there that night were only there to see Kamasi Washington and actually left right after his set ended. 

The show wasn't sold-out as many of the shows on their tour are but it came pretty close because the place was pretty full by the time Sylvan Esso took the stage.

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

They started their set same way they've started their set the last few times I've seen them: with the hopelessly romantic, distorted "Sound". It's also the same way that their second album, What Now starts. It's a pleasant introduction to both live show and record. It eases you in yet has you thinking "what am I about to get into" while giving the duo time to make their way to the stage as the sweet distortion plays, building more anticipation for the show. 

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

I got goosebumps when the rhythmic pulses of "Could I" washed over the crowd in the outdoor arena as the night and the dance party got underway. When Amelia and Nick are on stage there's an indescribable sense of elation that permeates between them which then translates to a sensational energy that flows through their fans. It's always a genuine feeling, never phoned in and that's no easy feat for a band who tours as much as they have. 

Wearing what looked liked the same black, long-sleeved, tasseled body suit that she wore on stage at Bonnaroo with fishnets and her signature stacked platforms, Amelia's interpretive moves and energetic kicks did not interrupt her steady vocals. Nick wriggles and jumps around a bit too while he cranks out all the beats and drops all the hooks. 

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Being at one of their shows is like watching poetry in motion. Like Newton's law of inertia, everyone around you will be singing and dancing along with Sylvan Esso, yourself included. 

Tumultuous roars rose from the crowd at the top of every song and they were met with the same outpour of admiration at the end of every song. 

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Their thoughtfully constructed set-list was balanced with songs from both albums, hi-tempo tunes with lo-tempo tunes and their newest one, PARAD(w/m)E. Out of the 16 sixteen songs in their hour and fifteen minute long set their cumbersome, beat dropping induced single "Die Young" garnered the most praise before they played it. 

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

With permanent smiles painted across their faces they each took time to take it all in. From their very first show in the Bay Area at Bottom of the Hill in SF, to opening for tUnE-yArDs at The Fillmore to playing two if not sold-out very close to sold-out shows at The Fox in Oakland just last Summer, they were beside themselves on stage that night. They graciously thanked fans for making their dream job come true. 

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

As if we were in a kaleidoscope dream, the fog rolled in and mixed with the bright neon lighting beaming from the stage creating an epic look and feel to the already epic dancy party. In that moment I realized how truly special it's been seeing these two come up from humble beginnings as an opening act to their humble success as they headlining amphitheaters.
If you've never experienced Sylvan Esso live please do yourself a favor and go buy that ticket. 

"We get people who normally don't openly have a good time at shows to openly have a good time at our shows". 

- Nick Sanborn 

Sylvan Esso @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 7/12/2018
photo by Marc Fong

set-list 7/12/2018 

1. Sound

2. Could I Be

3. Signal 

4. Dress 

5. Die Young 

6. Kick Jump Twist 

7. The Glow 

8. Jamie's Song

9. Just Dancing  

10. Coffee

11. Wolf

12. Uncatena 

13. PARAD(w/m)E

14. Hey Mami 

15. H.S.K.T

16. Radio