Sloan Struble nervously welcomed the crowd saying, “Minneapolis,” hoping that he wouldn’t mispronounce it, mentioning that he doesn’t want to get yelled at by crowd members for saying “Mini-a-nepolis”.  This may have been Dayglow’s first time playing in Minnesota, but the band seemed comfortable and up to the task of playing the First Avenue main room. It was apparent right away that Struble mastered the art of dad dancing, showcasing the corniness, and fun energy he was going to bring to his show. 

The band opened with “Something,” the first song off their new album Harmony House. Although just under 2 minutes, the track was a punchy intro to Dayglow’s remaining set. The beginning of the set continued to feed off the first track, with more toe-tappers such as “Medicine” and “Fair Game”. The toe-tapping eventually turned into jumping when Struble decided to play “Hot Rod”, a fan favorite with a turbulent guitar solo and catchy riff. Melody changes were almost always complimented with a color that fit the mood of the music and light patterns that matched the speed of the track. 

In the middle of the set, Struble took to his Wurlitzer electric piano and showed off his range as a songwriter. Struble admits that much of Harmony House is about dealing with change. On “Moving Out” he sings about feeling like a stranger at the moment, but knowing that you’ll grow into “something you can’t see right now.” He took his time on the piano, also playing “December” which eventually morphed into “Dear Friend”. While slowing it down and telling stories through these songs, Struble demonstrated the reflective nature of his work. 

During a short break between songs, stillness fell upon the room and Struble went up to the mic and asked the eager crowd, “Do you wanna do it?”. After some confusion, a loud cheer erupted and Struble said “Let’s do it.” The band jumped into “Can I Call You Tonight?” the favorite off of Daglow’s first album Fuzzybrain. The song’s youthful theme resonated throughout the room as it brought up memories of trying to tell your crush that you like them. 

Though much of the crowd looked young, the sounds of 80s synth on tracks like “Close to You” and “Listerine” transported the crowd back into a musical style that many of their parents probably experienced at their age. Struble introduced “Crying on the Dancefloor” as a song fit for prom. The lights shifted to a blue and purple that complimented the song's dreaminess. Indeed, “Crying on the Dancefloor” is the song that you wish they played at your prom. 

As Struble and the band walked off stage to conclude their set, a roaring cheer called them back for an encore almost immediately. After getting resituated on stage, everyone in the room was surprised to hear the initial riff to a familiar song, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” Unexpected, but oh so sweet, the Tears For Fears cover fit perfectly into the night’s trajectory. From ruling to running, Dayglow concluded with their powerful and energetic track “Run the World!!!”. The finale left the crowd feeling fulfilled and many did not want to stop dancing. Although Struble’s dance moves can use some work, Dayglow’s music keeps getting better and better. 

by Laszlo Marton