Sweaty bodies pushed closer together as the Sun started its slow descent before The Backseat Lovers’ set on ACL Saturday. Displayed on the big screen, a close shot of vocalist Joshua Harmon’s collage-decorated guitar. The anticipation grew almost unbearable, or perhaps it was the claustrophobia, but The Backseat Lovers took the stage and put all of that to rest. The band strutted their way out in style, and Harmon himself carried a flower like a true romantic.
Opening with a slow acoustic track, the band waited until song number two, “Growing/Dying,” to turn the dial up. And turn up they did: the anxious track ended in a frenzy of electric guitar and drums. Each member clearly into the performance, in constant motion and full of smiles.
The group transitioned into an obvious crowd favorite with “Dugout,” no … “Poolhouse,” definitely “Poolhouse.” Few songs capture the young adult experience like “Poolhouse,” and we all joined in for those familiar lines, “I’m stuck on the porch / what am I waiting for?” The roar of the crowd joined Harmon’s voice, and we teamed up for three minutes of catharsis.
The group’s familiar garage rock sound took on an electric edge for their live performance. The set came to a head for their performance of “Kilby Girl” and “Maple Syrup,” two anthems from their 2019 album, When We Were Friends. Adorned by simple black graphics, the boys let their music stay the focus.
In the middle of their set, the group slowed it down with a musical breakdown lasting about five minutes. A surprising choice, maybe, but the ambient rest got the crowd grounded for the next half – or at least weeded out those trying to rush out to DJO.
Harmon’s curls got progressively sweatier, but he still managed to grin out at us like he had a secret we couldn’t know. Even during his most sentimental tracks, like a guttural unreleased tune about anticipating a breakup, he kept that grin on his face. Ever the gentleman, Harmon asked if the group could get acoustic again. The aptly-titled “Snowbank Blues” is an ode to burn out, but the highlight of the emotional track had to be when Harmon whistled the melodies.
Rounding out their nostalgic set was “Sinking Ship,” and the restrained, mournful tone of the song was only made more intense by the 7:00 sun. Harmon spoke to us all as he willed a lover to leave: “If it’s me you’re waiting on, then I say spend / your time on someone else’s sinking ship.” Announcing this as one of the group’s last shows of the year, Harmon’s persistent wistfulness finally made sense. Dynamic and painfully vulnerable, this was a set to close out The Backseat Lover’s year and get us excited for more to come from the band.
