No Vacation @ Bluebird Theater
Denver, COlorado - April 23, 2024
On a sleepy Tuesday evening in Denver, indie kids from all over northern Colorado gathered at the iconic Bluebird Theater to lose themselves in a haze of psychedelic dream pop.
Originally from San Francisco, the coastal influence on band No Vacation’s sound does not go unnoticed. A layer of surf-rock adjacent riffs, courtesy of guitarist Harrison Spencer, can be heard floating atop many of the band’s tracks. However, the group’s overall unique sound is due to the clever blending of sonic elements. Melodies provided by vocalist Sab Mai are hypnotic, subdued, and oozing with the nostalgia of 90s shoegaze rock. At the same time, the versatile Nat Lee alters between synths, bass guitar, and violin, adapting to the different tones found in the band’s eclectic discography. With the support of James Shi on drums and Alex Togashii on keys and bass, the band is able to conjure a wide range of sounds—from upbeat dance-worthy rock numbers to more mellow, dreamy tunes, and all along the spectrum in between.
Now operating bi-coastally, with members in both Brooklyn and San Francisco, No Vacation collaborates virtually on their music endeavors. Beginning in February, the group reunited to bring their enchanting energy to venues and festivals across the US and Canada. This week, the band stopped in Denver to deliver a stunning performance to a sold out Bluebird Theater.
No Vacation performing at Bluebird Theater in Denver, Colorado.
The historic former movie theater, decorated ornately to reflect its inception in 1915, was a fitting venue for No Vacation. While on the smaller side, the interior has stellar acoustics especially apt at circulating reverb to every corner of the room. For a show full of eager fans packed to the brim, this proved to be a critical feature.
Excitement erupted when the house lights dimmed. No Vacation promptly took to the stage, greeting the crowd as they adjusted their instruments. Band members exchanged a quick glance before diving into the opening number, “Sad Valentine'' off their debut project Summer Break Mixtape. It began with a soft, instrumental duet between a sparkly piano melody and a groovy accompanying bass line. With no warning, the rest of the band then cut in with hard hitting guitars and crashing drums, kicking up the tempo and disrupting the mellow introduction. This would go on to be a theme of the performance, as the band excelled at balancing beautiful arrangements with bursts of energetic rock.
As the show went on, the group’s playful energy during transitions between tracks ensured there was never a dull moment. At one point, Sab approached the mic while drying themselves with a towel to announce they were not, in fact, crying. Nat chimed in to profess that there’s nothing wrong with crying, and proceeded to ask “Who here has cried today?” with a hand raised proudly. In response, hands went up in the crowd, and chatter on the topic became apparent. Perhaps not coincidentally, No Vacation partnered with mental wellness organization, Sprout Society, on this tour. The partnership manifests as a letter exchange where fans attending the show can write a positive message for a fan in the next city, and receive a positive message written at the prior show. This simple gesture, along with the sentiment shared by the band on stage, shows their dedication to the cause that is undoubtedly appreciated by their fanbase.
Much like their discography, No Vacation’s eclectic set brought the audience up to highs of chaotic rage, and then back down to their signature dream pop sound. Highlights included the band’s memorable covers of The Cranberries’ “Waltzing Back”, “How”, and during the encore, the recently repopularized hit, “Linger”. Sab’s dreamy voice did justice to honor the late Dolores O’Riordan’s legacy as legendary vocalist of The Cranberries. Between the gorgeous vocals and the band’s masterfully crafted arrangements, No Vacation breathed new life into the widely recognized 90s hits. While putting a signature spin on the ballads, the overall integrity of the original songs were maintained with elements like triumphant violin refrains played by Nat.
Upon the crowd’s demand for an encore, No Vacation performed their immaculate rendition of “Linger”. To follow, they continued the bonus set with their top song on Spotify, “Yam Yam”. A roar from the crowd in response to the introductory guitar riff made it clear this was a fan favorite. When the chorus arrived, the room echoed the lyrics, “When morning comes our way, I’ll be here to stay”. In a full circle moment, the band closed out the night with another track from their debut Summer Break Mixtape, “Dræm Girl”. This upbeat number had the whole room dancing. Ending on a high note, prolonged cheering ensued as the group said their final goodbyes before leaving the stage.
No Vacation is currently continuing their Spring Tour, with a final homecoming show set for Saturday May 4th at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Can’t make it to a show? Watch the Audiotree taping of their recent performance in Chicago below!