It was raining in the middle of July in Denver, but that didn’t stop the SoCal band, almost monday, from brightening up the stage with their charming exuberance. The group consisting of Dawson Daugherty (vocals), Cole Clisby (guitar) and Luke Fabry (bass), opened for AJR on their Maybe Man Tour at the Ball Arena in Denver.

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From the moment the trio took the stage, it was clear they were going to bring boundless energy and get the entire arena on their feet. They started the night off with one of their newer releases and a personal favorite, “is it too late?”. While performing the song, Dawson graced the crowd with spirited dance moves and an energy that perfectly matched the vibrant aura of their music. It’s always refreshing to see artists fully embrace themselves on stage; their passion for the music and lyrics truly shining through during the performance. Sometimes it’s just about letting the music move you and dancing your heart out, which Dawson took very seriously!

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By the time the band started playing “only wanna dance“, the crowd eagerly obliged, dancing along to the infectious beat. The band’s surf-rock-SoCal influences are very present in their music, and can be heard through the groovy beat on “sunburn” and the sun-soaked guitar riffs on “sun keeps on shining”. It’s the kind of music you want to blast with the windows down on the Pacific Coast Highway – en route to the beach with your closest friends. As a California native, it’s a feeling I know all too well, and one that I love to reminisce on through song.

During “sun keeps on shining”, the crowd brought out their flashlights and the entire arena lit up as the band performed the song that radiated pure positivity. With lyrics like,

“But the sun keeps on shining And the car keeps on driving
You can sit at home or you can take a ride You can get a tan or stay inside
But the sun keeps on shining”

How can anybody not be uplifted by such a feel-good anthem? The crowd waved and bounced along until the final chord.

Towards the end of the set, Dawson thanked the crowd for coming early to see them perform and asked if he could take a photo of them on his Polaroid camera. The audience was thrilled and eagerly posed for the band, even those in the nosebleeds. It’s always really sweet and wholesome to see artists interact with the crowd, even one as large as this one was, as it seems to create bonds that transcend the night.

Closing off the set with another personal favorite, “life goes by”, as the perfect way to wrap things up. This song is particularly nostalgic for me, evoking a feeling I can’t quite place. It holds a special place in my heart, and along with the crowd, I couldn’t get enough of the infectious chorus and driving beat. As the band left the stage, I overheard people in the crowd praising almost monday’s set and could tell there were new fans forming on the spot. Their presence was greatly missed after they left the stage, leaving the crowd buzzing with anticipation for the rest of the night.

READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ALMOST MONDAY IN DENVER

almost monday is a band that stays true to their roots and their passions. Their visible enthusiasm and authenticity are so compelling that it’s easy for anyone to fall in love with their music. I cannot wait to see what this incredible group does in the future and hope to continue following their journey and enjoying their evolving sound. This band is a personal favorite of mine and I would highly encourage everyone to catch their show if you can or stream their music.

Stream almost monday’s newest release “tidal wave” now and stay tuned for a new album on the horizon.

SETLIST:

• is it too late?
• can’t slow down
• cough drops
• only wanna dance
• tidal wave
• cool enough
• sunburn
• sun keeps on shining
• life goes by