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When Finish Ticket and Vinyl Theatre came to Phoenix for their sold out co-headlining show on March 22, they attracted the longest line of young fans that I have ever seen outside Valley Bar.
While the venue typically attracts local, college-aged and 21+ crowds, this night was clearly ready to present indie in a manner modern enough to appeal to a stamped-hand majority. Teens flocked close to the stage once the doors opened, taking advantage of the lack of an age barrier in the venue for the night, while parents chaperoning fans below the 16-year minimum flocked to chairs in the back.
With the music hall bar closed for the youthful show, it certainly didn’t feel like Valley Bar, but the excitement in the room was at an all-time high. Unfortunately, the beginning half of the show wasn’t as impressive as the crowd made it appear to be.
Opening band Patternist gave a slow start to the show with a less than captivating first song. While the musicians gradually improved throughout their set, much of their energy relied upon the upbeat, electropop vibes behind the music. Each song was enjoyable and played skillfully live, but with each member practically static in their positions, I imagine there would be little difference between watching the live performance and listening to a recording of it.
Co-headliner Vinyl Theatre opened strong with a mysterious, intriguing darkness before blasting into a welcoming song. It was one of the smartest set starters I had seen in a while, which made it all the more unfortunate when the success of the band’s performance noticeably wavered at a couple points.
By starting off with the energetic, catchy songs, including “If You Say So” and “Stay,” Vinyl Theatre set up high expectations. The band was a burst of movement, showcasing talents across the stage, allowing audience members in every corner to be charged by its energy.
The first downfall came in Vinyl Theatre’s shift into and out of a cover. Keyboardist Chris Senner jokingly launched into a cover of a Nickleback song as a humorous transition, but the joke fell flat for many audience members. The band soon stopped the gag and began the real cover of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” but the enjoyable performance felt less than satisfying as it turned out to be just a snippet of the song. With the creative cover left incomplete, I was left wondering how the cover even made the set list.
The band quickly bounced back for their best song of the night: “Pillow Talk.” Vinyl Theatre maximized the never-ending energy, with drums skillfully upping the beat of the music. Vocalist Keegan Calmes showed off a variety of pitches with smooth transitions.
Vinyl Theatre soon entered an effective conclusion with the whole crowd jumping to “The Rhythm of Night” — but then, the set continued on. Before the crowd called for an encore (even before the band truly left the stage), the co-headliners awkwardly announced their return and predictably played a strong rendition of their single “Gold.”
Thankfully, Finish Ticket was set to end the night, as it was the only band to fill the room with truly standout performances. They kicked off with the energy that Patternist needed, and continued the show with the togetherness that Vinyl Theatre sometimes lacked.
Finish Ticket’s perfected performance was especially evident in “When Night Becomes Day.” The band consistently matched the song’s extremely upbeat, Walk the Moon-esque vibe with uninhibited energy and vocalist Brendan Hoye’s flawless pitches.
One of the best parts of set was the fact that Hoye was expressive. From slower, more emotionally moving songs like “Never Alone” and “Tranquilize” to the fast-paced, widely familiar tunes of a “When You Were Young” cover, he performed with a mission to unmask the mood of the song. While Finish Ticket’s music already varied in emotions, Hoye allowed the audience to feel each one strongly and as they were meant to be felt.
After a powerful rendition of “Bring the Rain” that incorporated lights and a verse sung by the audience, Finish Ticket soon returned to the stage for an encore, playing “Doctor” with a perfectly sung introduction into smooth, rock-inspired melodies.
If my interest slowly declined in the first half of the show, there was no doubt that it ended on a high note. I was thoroughly impressed by Finish Ticket — a band whose ability to turn a mediocre show into a lively, memorable one became completely evident.
Correction March 24, 2016: An earlier version of this slideshow misidentified the band Patternist. It has been updated to reflect the band’s correct name.
Contact the columnist at Emily.Liu@asu.edu
