Review and photos by Erika Reinsel
LA-based electro-poppers Capital Cities performed at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philly on Friday, 5/10. Known for their catchy beats and lyrics, Capital Cities had the crowd singing and dancing along from beginning to end. Starting off the show with a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Breathe”, they set the tone for the fun night ahead. Front men Sebu Simonia and Ryan Merchant constantly interacted with the crowd, even teaching the audience the “Capital Cities Shuffle” (thankfully, it’s simple enough for even the rhythm impaired). Trumpeter, Spencer Ludwig, put on a performance of his own – full of energy and mad trumpet skills that took their songs to another level. The band surprised fans with several unique covers that kept the dancing going, including Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive”, Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”, and Madonna’s “Holiday”; however, the highlight of the evening was the performance of their current hit “Safe and Sound” (watch the official music video below) during which not a single person was standing still. The band took their turns jumping into the crowd and Ludwig even participated in a crowd surf. They ended the show thanking the crowd and taking some Instagrams – and left the crowd wanting to hit up the nearest dance club.
Capital Cities is set to release their debut LP In A Tidal Wave of Mystery next month. In the meantime, you can listen to their current releases on Spotify.
Opening for Capital Cities was Lovelife, whose synth-pop sounds were a perfect fit. They’re set to release their third EP Stateless this summer. Rockin’ The ‘Burbs had a chance to sit down with the boys from Lovelife before the show – you can read the full interview here. Also opening was Gold Fields, who stood out for their awesome cover of Underworld’s “Born Slippy” (Trainspotting fans – you’ll know this!). You can listen to their debut album Black Sun on Spotify.
Keep scrolling to see more photos from the show.
