Oh, the Ottobar. An hour and some change from home for me, but it feels like a home away from home. In 2018 the Ottobar was named one of the 10 best live music venues in America by Rolling Stone Magazine. Understanding why is clear as soon as you step foot in the door.
This intimate, grungy dive bar type venue hosts everything from dance parties to burlesque shows. But I digress.
The show is sold out and fans are waiting in the bitter cold for an hour before doors. No complaints from the lengthy line, though. The buzz and excitement about the looming show kept us warm and content. We’re let in and well, as expected, there’s no barricade (I later learned they never have them). If you’re a photographer, you know how scary the words ‘no barricade’ can be. Especially in a cozy little club like The Ottobar with a high energy crowd.
Nate Bergman
The room fills quickly with listeners of all ages. You’ve got everything from your hardcore dudes to younger gals with their parents in tow. At 7:50p.m., Nate Bergman, bluesy rock artist, casually strolls onto stage, and begins to sing his first song acapella. Dude’s got pipes from Heaven, his voice sweet, serenading and raspy (in a good way).
Hailing from Washington D.C, he’s basically right at home at this venue. Nate strums his guitar and belts his emotional lyrics to a totally immersed crowd. Oh, and he brought Kayleigh Goldsworthy out for a duet. They harmonized angelically, covering “Dancing On My Own”, made famous by Robyn in 2010. A bittersweet banger, and man, did they nail it. Nate ends his set by hustling down the stage stairs, crooning as he makes his way through a sea of people. He invites us to come to his merch table and chat with him after the show.
Someone from the Boston crowd got a video of Bergman and Goldsworthy dueting “Dancing On My Own”. You can check it out here. Hop on over to Nate’s Instagram, where he posts plenty of acoustic goodness.
Kayleigh Goldsworthy
The clock strikes 8:30 and Kayleigh Goldsworthy graces the stage once again. Beautiful and beaming (literally, she was wearing a really cute bedazzled top), this alternative folk artist’s set follows and complements Nate’s beautifully. Her lyrics heartfelt but a slightly more upbeat. Between songs, she smiles at her fans and replies sweetly to the ones brave enough to shout out words of encouragement to her.
Goldsworthy is talented and quirky to boot, telling short stories and joking with the audience prior to each song. Her set concludes with a few special guests to support her through her final song. Yep, the boys of L.S. Dunes came out and performed her original song, “Overambitious” alongside her. Henceforth, the crowd of course lost their minds.
You can watch the music video for “Overambitious” right here. Keep up with Kayleigh via her Instagram page.
L.S. Dunes
At 9:35 its L.S. Dunes turn to take the stage, and boy, did they. Right out of the gate, drummer Tucker Rule plops down at his kit and takes off. The rest of the band joins in on their respective instruments. The shrieks of an excited and packed to the gills venue is comparable to a roar.
If you’re not familiar with L.S. Dunes (I mean, they are a new band after all), you may see some faces that jog your memory.
Frontman Anthony Green, like his band mates, has quite the musical history. Circa Survive, Saosin, and The Sound of Animals Fighting, in addition to his solo music. (Dear Child was stuck in my head for 3 days leading up to the show). Frank Iero, My Chemical Romance rhythm guitarist, also was a part of Leathermouth and Pencey Prep. (And if that’s not enough, he has a solo project called Frank Iero and The Future Violents). You’ve got Thursday bassist Tim Payne, Travis Stever, co-founder and lead guitarist of Coheed and Cambria, and drummer Tucker Rule.
Quite literally a medley of all of my favorite bands as an emo teen, wrapped up into a perfect indie supergroup. I’ve been to an array of shows, all different genres, venues massive and tiny. The energy and stage presence this band has is unmatched, unlike anything I’ve seen before.
The band plays harmoniously, grinning and grooving. Meanwhile Anthony darts around the stage, whipping his sweat drenched locks around to the beat of each song. L.S. Dunes performed their new album, “Past Lives” in its entirety, by the way.
They’re at 110% for the whole damn set, it’s really incredible. The entire room was so eager to be closer to stage that consequently, you could not move to lift your arms. The night ends with the boys leaving the stage, only for the crowd to demand an encore. They return to stage and close out with my personal favorite from the album, “Sleep Cult”. It’s a beautifully haunting and weirdly romantic jam. Kayleigh Goldsworthy joins in, playing along on her violin and creating a sweet but somber ending to the night.
While their 2022 tour has concluded, (their first tour!) lookout for L.S. Dunes to dominate the nation in 2023.
You can listen to their new album, ‘Past Lives’ here.
Want to keep up with L.S. Dunes? Check out their Twitter and Instagram for the latest.
