Sylvan Esso are the very definition of a hot band right now. Their performance at Eaux Claires impressed, they released a new album “What Now” in April, their single “Die Young” is all over the airwaves and a serious contender for the “song of the summer” race, and they are headed for 2 sold out dates at First Avenue on 8/6 and 8/7. But don’t despair if you don’t have tickets yet – check First Ave’s social media as a lot of times last minute tickets will be release the day before or day of the show.
Sylvan Esso began as a chance meeting, followed by a couple of risky cross-country relocations that coalesced into ten songs. It became very clear early on that these songs were the product of sheer alchemy; Amelia’s effortlessly acrobatic melodic reflections complimented Nick’s dynamic compositions in ways that were as unlikely as they were undeniable. When it started it was whisper quiet, a slight frame, something almost domestic but gleaming with excitement. Then it made contact with the air.
The duo found themselves on a three-year worldwide swirl of planes, buses, vans, venues, festival stages, hotel rooms, radio stations and television studios. It’s difficult to draw distinctions. We frequently have to work as a group to remember the chronology and version of events, but the stories that make us howl with laughter or shake our heads in bewilderment are crystal clear. Throughout this process there was an underlying truth that remained this shred of creative excitement in what was at times a monotonous grind: that this is just the beginning.
