Kicking off this wholesome evening was the California-based surf-rock group, Sun Room. They took the stage suavely, fully leaning into the indie sleaze vibe. They definitely had all the teenage girls in the room swooning with the confidence they were exuding. Their live music had great punky energy and was honestly heavier than I would’ve expected from a band opening for an indie pop act. They seemed to take inspiration from the grit of early Strokes and Arctic Monkeys while fusing their sound with more modern acts like Wallows or Inhaler. While they were well received by the crowd, I’m confident they would shine even more in a smaller room filled with their own dedicated fans. Their energy would surely be even more contagious and would make for an unforgettable show.
It’s been less than two years since Dayglow’s last appearance in Montreal, when I saw him at the exact same venue during his third LP’s tour. That show was an over-the-top, flashy synth-pop display that perfectly fit the retro vibe of that album. This time, however, frontman Sloan Struble took it back to basics in many aspects. For one, his newest self-titled album took a completely different direction. Ditching the synths, he adopted a more stripped-back approach, focusing on catchy guitar riffs and straightforward songwriting. A similar approach was applied to his show and stage setup. Instead of a massive LED screen with trippy visuals backing the band, they opted for a simple logo backdrop and mostly monochrome lighting. It was clear Sloan didn’t want any fluff this time around and was purely focused on delivering a tight, energetic performance—which he absolutely succeeded at.
He opened his set with a modified version of “Junior Varsity,” a beloved track from his first album. He seamlessly transitioned into the closing track off his newest LP, “Broken Bone,” which showcased some of the best guitar work in his discography right off the bat. The setlist was perfectly crafted to give each fan a taste of everything Dayglow has offered throughout his career. Even though he played the entirety of his new album (which was extremely well received), the band still included all their most beloved songs. Every tune that relied heavily on synths in their studio versions was adapted for a purely guitar-based band. Even though I’d heard many of these songs live before, it felt like a completely new experience.
“Old Friend, New Face” was shockingly one of the biggest hits of the evening. This song is a new track from his latest album that wasn’t even released as a single. Despite the album being out for only about a month, the dedicated audience sang along to every word and danced passionately. I could see this song becoming a staple in his future setlists.
One of the night’s most surprising highlights was a country-style rendition of “Crying on the Dancefloor,” adding a playful, unexpected twist. Struble somehow made the shift feel perfectly natural, replacing his signature synth-pop with twang in a way only he could pull off. This sense of fun and experimentation flowed throughout the set, making it clear that Dayglow’s live shows are about creating an experience as much as playing songs.
For the encore, the entire band, except Sloan, returned to the stage and started playing “Close to You.” It was a fun moment seeing the frontman appear on the balcony of the venue, singing the first half of the song as if he were a prince looking down from a castle. The band closed their set with “Run the World!!!,” giving everyone one last chance to let loose and dance their hearts out.
Dayglow’s Montreal stop was a vibrant, heartwarming celebration that reminded everyone of the sheer joy live music can bring, leaving fans already buzzing for his next return to the city.
Setlist:
- Junior Varsity / Broken Bone
- Silver Lining
- Hot Rod
- Then It All Goes Away
- Cocoon
- Every Little Thing
- I Say I Do
- Fair Game / Balcony
- What People Really Do
- Medicine
- Weatherman
- Crying on the Dancefloor (Country Version)
- Like She Does
- Fuzzybrain
- Old Friend, New Face
- This Feeling
- Nothing Ever Does!!!
- Mindless Creatures
- Can I Call You Tonight?
Encore:
- Close to You
- Run the World!!!
Review – Michael Anestopoulos
Photos – Daphne Miller
