REVIEW BY GISSELLE TAPIA / Student Contributor
To convey a sense of familiarity without necessarily trying is a difficult feat that most artists attempt to accomplish during live performances, with their audience, and amongst the audience themselves.
I attended a show on Jan. 12 at The Republik, near Ala Moana Center, Where the bands Twin Fin, Wide Eyed Kids, and Surfer Girl performed, and this very feeling of familiarity echoed throughout the venue.
Twin Fin originated in Hollister, California, with Robbie Kelly (lead vocalist) and Tyler Sciller (Bassist) would create music together in High School. Eventually, the two relocated to Oahu, where they met Chase Diregorio (Drummer), and recruited Zack Wilson (Lead Guitarist).
I don’t necessarily believe in placing musicians’ music into categories, however, the band’s range is mostly indie rock, with some pop and reggae influences.
Twin Fin was brought as a special guest, an opening act for the two bands, and delivered a performance that radiated a feeling of electricity, and expertise that the next band could not compete with.
Unfortunately, I arrived slightly later than I expected, and Twin Fin had already begun their set. When I got into the venue, they were finishing up a song, and were prepping for a new one: “20’s are the best years of my life,” an unreleased track. Robbie has a unique voice, with a twang that is commonly found in indie-rock musicians.
The audience consisted of young adults, with a couple of older generations hanging around the back near the bar. People were continuing to trickle in, and the audience directly in front of the stage was already in full swing, colliding and moving like one to the beat of the music.
They continued to play unreleased tracks, such as “When She’s Drinking,” “Pedialyte,” and “Band-Aid.” The way they performed encouraged the audience to dance, even if they did not know the songs.
Twin Fin’s lyricism is almost self-deprecating, that rings true to every young adult. There is a sense of personal vulnerabilities in each of their tracks. They played two of their well-known tracks, “Yacht-Rock” and “Purple Daisies,” as well as a newly released track titled “Song for a Sweetheart.”
When I first decided to attend this show, my deciding factor included wanting to hear “Purple Daisies” live. I had just moved to Oahu, leaving behind relationships and comfort. Riding TheBus around the island trying to familiarize myself with my new home while listening to a track that lyrically felt familiar, but introduced me to the slow island rhythm, somehow made me feel comfortable.
When they played “Yacht-Rock,” I could tell this track defines this band, with a strong vocal focus that highlights Robbie’s unique sound. The band would say that the track “Mai Tai’s” is their defining feature, since this was the track that brought them together, however, they have much stronger tracks in their short discography.
For Twin Fin only playing as a supporting act, they displayed their sound thoroughly, and I would even say they were the crowd favorite. I believe Twin Fin could expand their audience with the release of a full album, and I think the inclusion of reggae influences alongside their indie-rock sound can bring a refreshing perspective in the evolving sound of Indie music to the table.
The Wide Eyed Kids began their set shortly after, and you could tell right away that there was a difference in production. Their set included intricate visuals that reflected the tracks, and a photographer roamed the crowd.
The band consists of Chandler Norton (Guitar), Landon Chung (Drums), and Erik Ekman (Vocalist). The band originated in Oahu; however, they have taken a five-month live performance break to relocate to San Diego, CA. The band promotes a positive outlook on life, with lyrics relating to the outdoors and recreational drug use. They use their music to emphasize the importance of spreading love and appreciation for all aspects of life.
Their set began with an acoustic song, that introduced the band’s sentimental sound. Then they transitioned into a cover of Post Malone’s “Circles”, which fits Erik Ekman’s vocal abilities. The audience enjoyed this cover but was quickly settled down by their soothing tracks.
The audience was not as explosive as they were for Twin Fin, but their attention was captured by the mesmerizing energy that emanated from the Wide Eyed Kids.
Despite their obvious talent, it was clear that the band had not performed live in quite a while, with some shaky vocal moments from Erik. Their most recent track, “Warm Winds,” was their strongest, with evident passion behind it. The song transported the audience into the warm, nostalgic feeling of a free summer.
The band has strong reggae influences in their sound, however the closest label I could place them under is indie pop. They have a wide discography, dating back to 2018 with multiple singles and EP’s. They have one album titled “Beautiful Disaster.”
I was not as impressed by their live performance, and I did not make a personal connection to their music, however, I can appreciate the nostalgic and positive energy that this band brings to the Indie scene in Oahu.
Unfortunately, I was not able to stay for Surfer Girls performance.
Overall, both sets had the audience in high spirits, and people connecting with strangers through their love of music. Even though I came alone, I left with connections to people I had not met before and with a sense of positivity.
I would rate Twin Fin’s performance a strong 8 out of 10, as a lot of their music is unreleased.
I would then rate The Wide Eyed Kids performance a 7 out of 10, as they need to strengthen their live vocals and rearrange their set list.
