Neon Trees – The Favorite Daze Tour

As a part of their “The Favorite Daze Tour,” established rock band Neon Trees held a stunning show to a vocal crowd inside San Diego’s The Observatory North Park. The restored 1939 theater proves itself as one of the most distinguishable locations to hear musicians, and enjoy the nightlife of the hipster haven.

One could gather that many friend groups came together to see the show. In addition, those who stepped inside the theater were confident in their safety, given how splendidly security did their job at the venue. Staff members also went above and beyond, generously handing out earplugs for those who’d need them.

Before Neon Trees appeared, two acts opened the performance. The first was a trio called Silent Rival. Singer Sara Coda was as powerful as the music she sang, demanding everyone’s attention through her stage presence and gleaming attire. She radiated confidence, eager to get the crowd dancing. They easily transitioned from song to song, creating music that made the audience toss their heads back and jam out.

Silent Rival’s band members were expressive and energetic, as though they were all tethered to each other by a magnetic force. Pushing and pulling, across the entire stage. Coda prioritized audience engagement, and was gracious for everyone’s hospitality. During the last piece of their lineup, the entire audience lifted their hands up high to clap along with the beat of the song. It was a sight deserving of every photograph.

The second of the opening acts was Laundry Day, a pop band that originated in Manhattan and consisted of five male band members. When it came time for them to perform, they were hidden by a deep blue hue and the lingering sound of Frank Sinatra singing overhead. Suddenly, a school bell rang out, shifting the atmosphere entirely. They greeted the San Diego crowd with excitement, attired in their school uniforms.

They appeared to be having the time of their lives, rough-housing with an energy akin to teenage boys on a sugar rush, intent on breaking the rules. They too, were communicative with their audience, asking for everyone’s love and involvement. Considering how the band all met each other in high school when they were fourteen, and with them being twenty-one, the bond between them was undeniable and apparent. They soon departed from the stage, once again to the sound of Sinatra, saying goodbye to San Diego.

Against the darkness, the band members of Neon Trees took their places on stage. For a while, the neon blue lights lining their elevated platforms were the only thing illuminating the space. Said lights became brighter as Tyler Glenn started singing “Versions of You.” At the sound of Elaine Bradley counting them in with the clicking of her drumsticks, the stage sprung to life. Through the gesturing of his fingers alone, Glenn increased the volume of the crowd. Bradley provided subtle harmonies, singing alongside Glenn.

Everyone was tossed back into the darkness, with only the piano to leeway into the next song. Glenn addressed the crowd with a powerful tone, asking how the San Diego crowd was doing that night. The amplification of their cheering, combined with the enthusiasm of the front row as they jumped to the music gave Glenn all the answers he needed. The lights were blinding, like a rotating RGB structure.

Glenn was charismatic, he knew he had the crowd within the palm of his hand. He reminded everyone that they were at a Neon Trees concert, and explained to newcomers that he needed their energy. In a roundabout way, Glenn conveyed to the audience that they were getting exactly what they paid for. Guitarist Chris Allen, and bassist Branden Campbell, were spotted getting swept up in the show.

“Animal” was showstopping. At the sound of the first note, the audience knew what piece was about to play, and collectively lost their minds. If people weren’t dancing along with their friends, or recording the performance with their phones, they were singing lyrics aloud word-for-word, and smiling widely. When the song concluded, Glenn went around and introduced everyone playing on stage, including himself.

Flashing white spotlights backlit the band as they performed “Moving In The Dark,” with them going berserk toward the end. Glenn swiveled his hips for the audience, while the neon lights underneath the platforms lit up like an electrical current coursing through wires. “Lessons In Love” shook the venue, including every seat. Each time Bradley took the lead on vocals, with her hair tossing every time she slammed down on the drum set, the crowd responded. Both Allen and Campbell’s instruments glittered against the lights. They excellently maintained the structure of each song. Altogether, they were unreal.

During “Teenager In Love,” Glenn knelt towards the edge of the stage, singing directly to the front row. Even the security guards overseeing the show were bobbing their heads to the music. Glenn then revealed how both he and Allen grew up in cities about an hour outside of San Diego. For Glenn, it was Temecula, CA, and for Allen it was Murrieta, CA. But then Glenn cheered alongside the crowd, saying how boring it was growing up in a small town, and that they aren’t there tonight, but in San Diego. He spoke about how he walks around this planet earth, lonely and confused most of the time, asking himself where his people are, where his friends are. But they were right there before him, and he believes them.

His words melded right into “Sleeping with a Friend,” followed by “Songs I Can’t Listen To.” Allen’s skillful guitar playing especially shined at the midpoint of the piece. The band continued by playing a variety of songs from their 2020 record “I Can Feel You Ignoring Me.” Glenn reaffirmed the album’s quality, considering how often it is streamed on musical platforms by fans. But since Neon Trees could not tour with that album during the pandemic, they opted to perform some of those songs for this one.

For Glenn, the crowd’s positive reception to the show was “warming his gay little heart.” He encouraged everyone to sing with him, jokingly saying that it’s cool to try out. Some of the pieces that followed were “Skeleton Boy,” “Mess Me Up,” and “New Best Friend.” Underneath brilliant orange stage lights, dashed with a mixture of white and yellow, the reverberations of the music came in waves, like a crashing shore.

Before singing “When The Night Is Over,” Glenn thanked everyone for coming, asking the crowd if they were still with them. They clearly were. Not only did Glenn acknowledge everyone paying for a Tuesday night show, but he humorously told them good job. The gratitude shared between everyone was bountiful, leading up to “Everybody Talks” for the glorious finale. The love reserved for this song could be felt in how even when the musicians momentarily ceased their playing, including Glenn’s vocals, the audience continued singing the piece, right before it resumed. With one last toss of the drumsticks, the show was over, and everyone bowed. For further information on Neon Trees, visit https://www.neontrees.com/. Regarding their opening acts, visit https://www.daundrylay.com/ and https://www.silentrival.com/.