Sylvan Esso At The Westway

New York – Nestled on a deserted stretch of The West Side Highway, it would be palpably improbable to happen on The Westway by chance. Yet, Manhattan’s Lower West Side venue called forth a cadre of Sylvan Esso supporters on Thursday night. Pooled against the club’s doors, the crowd seemingly materialized out of thin air. A quiet and shared expectancy at the chance to see the folk-electronic duo in action was apparent. Sylvan Esso’s music is inconspicuously powerful, so it is entirely appropriate that the group might deliver a popup show in such an unassuming local.

The venue is a former gentleman’s club, and the dark gaucheness embedded in its past lends marked character to the vibe inside. The walls are plastered with glitter from floor to ceiling, and an elevated catwalk cuts straight down the room’s center. The finishing touch of the repurposed strip club is a gently twisting disco ball that takes the shape of a woman’s torso, suspended from the rafters. The air in the room all but vibrated with dance fever, and perpetuated a kind of grimy, intoxicating wildness.

The evening was an official Governors Ball Pre-Party, with Elizabeth Rose and Mother sharing the bill. The energy of all three acts is highly dynamic, and the combination worked to create a truly outlandish and lively night. Elizabeth Rose is an Australian electronic DJ, producer and singer-songwriter, and Mother is a Brooklyn-based experimental R&B act fronted by Penn Badgley. Backed by Neon Gold since their breakout track, “Easy,” the blog/label is rumored to be hosting Mother’s first release (that’s still all hearsay – XOXO, Gossip Girl).

Sylvan Esso is a choice coupling of two musicians, whose coming together is as serendipitous as it is vital. The duo met about four years ago, when Megafun bassist Nick Sanborn got booked to open for Amelia Meath’s folk-trio Mountain Man. Like stars aligning, they chanced to collaborate shortly thereafter when Meath asked Sanborn to rework a Mountain Man song. Something clicked when their individual stylings merged, an impossible chemistry sprang forth, and the two could not ignore the static pull inherent in their shared vision.

The band took the stage around 11pm, emerging to Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration.” A perfectly on point soundtrack for the moment, never was there ever a better entrance. Meade even protested when the track faded out, exclaiming “You can’t turn that off!” Yet, they launched into their set with steady precision, unwavering confidence and boundless energy.

Hitting all ten of the tracks that will grace this group’s debut album, Meade and Sanborn had their audience transfixed. Their work is instantly accessible, affecting and poignant, and showcased live the music is explosive. With swirling undertones of folk melodies and an overarching electronic air, Sylvan Esso’s percussion is the driving force that propels this sound to soaring and expansive elevations.

The way this pair works together is incomparably complementary, and their fluidity and interpersonal harmony onstage mirrors their writing process acutely. Meath pens the hooks and Sanborn’s production breaths structure and life into each track. Both halves of this act bring something particular to the table, but it is in the merging of their individual talents that magic truly happens. This coupling is tangible proof that certain pairings are predestined. Brewed together, the resulting product is euphoric and an inspired nod to fortuity.

Worthy of note, and pertinent to Thursday night’s climactic showing, is Meath’s longstanding love of dance. The pair’s knockout video for “Coffee” is a testament to her passion for motion, and showcased on stage her interest was infectious. Meath and Sanborn had the whole joint moving in time, permeating the sort of tangible and exacting collectivity that gives purpose to live music. Brief, the night was a vibrant one, and solidified with certainty this group’s impending stardom.

Sylvan Esso’s debut album is scheduled for release May 13th via Partisan Records, and the pair is currently touring in support of the release. If you’re in the NY area, the pair will return to play Webster Hall June 22 and 23 alongside Tune-Yards

Liz Rowley

Liz Rowley

Born in Mexico and raised in Toronto, Jerusalem and Chicago by a pair of journalists, Liz comes to BestNewBands.com with an inherited love of writing. After discovering a niche for herself in music journalism and radio while at Bates College in Maine, she always keeps a running playlist of new music to soundtrack her place in the world. Liz is passionate about helping dedicated, talented musicians gain the exposure they deserve. A recent transplant to Brooklyn from Hawaii, she is plagued by an incurable case of wanderlust and cursed with an affinity for old maps and old things like typewriters and vintage books. She adores photography and running and is very good with plants. Having come of age in Chicago, Wilco speaks to her soul. If she could be anything, she would be a cat in a Murakami novel.
Liz Rowley