The Salteens Show Report
I really liked The Salteens’ first
album when I got it two years ago. I can’t help but love good pop music, even if it’s not especially original. Maybe one day I’ll be fully pop saturated, but it hasn’t happened yet. The recently released Let Go of Your Bad Days, however, was a mild dissapointment when I first listened to it. It’s less peppy than the first album. The production is is a little more slick; the softened edges soften
some of the charm that made the first record so great. The melodies are still strong, though, and I was looking forward to seeing the band play live.
The Salteens were the middle act of a three band set at Luna Lounge, a great venue primarily due to the lack of a cover and relatively early
shows. There were forty or fifty people there by the time The Salteens started their set, and I don’t think they could’ve impressed me more. They played with more energy than most bands who play to crowds five times as large down the street at Mercury Lounge. At one point they did the typical clapalong number, but with such small attendance they made sure that everyone in the room clapped along. The songs were tight and fast; the
harmonies were dead on.
The show reminded me why I hate big venues. It’s much harder to make a connection with a band when there’s a huge crowd. Part of this is due to the fact that the band has to work so much harder to reach all the fans. Even more important for me is how easy it is to drift away from the show in a big crowd. The Salteens show was the first I’d been to in a long time where I felt like the band could see me as an individual. I felt more accountable for my enthusiasm and support. Usually I don’t have
to nod along or even smile. If I want, I can distance myself from the music, and I find my mind wandering. But here I was completely focused on the show,
the band was completely focused on the audience, and the tight feedback loop made the experience so much more special than a usual Saturday night at Irving Plaza.
Seeing The Salteens also reminded me why I love pop music. When it’s done well, I can’t stop smiling.