Michelle Shiers on July 15th, 2015

0

The line-up on Monday night at the Roxy was a perfect storm of swoon-worthy indie-pop, bringing droves of teenage girls to line up early and then rush the stage as doors opened. The DJ played the likes of Backstreet Boys, N Sync and Britney Spears to rouse the sign-wielding crowd before Brooklyn trio Dreamers took the stage and warmed up their audience with some retro power-pop.

||| Photos by Michelle Shiers

Dreamers are currently working on their full-length at Fairfax Recordings in Los Angeles and have released a single called “Wolves (You Got Me)” with the inevitable catch-lyric “And if you lie down with wolves you learn to howl.” While only a smattering of people were there to see Dreamers, it wasn’t until Hunter Hunted emerged that the crowd ratcheted up the decibel level.

Celebrating the release of their full-length album “Ready For You” as well as kicking off the first night of their tour, Hunter Hunted opened their set with the album’s title track and their first single, “Blindside.” Their synth-laden indie-pop is thick with infectious choruses and most importantly, heart. Helmed by frontman/keyboardist Michael Garner and bassist/vocalist Dan Chang, Hunter Hunted have certainly honed in on buoyant melodic dance-pop. With touring members Morgan Paros on violin and drummer Brian Henspeter, their live show is full of summery gloss.

All four members came forward for an unplugged version of “Lucky Day” and also surprised the crowd with “End Of The World,” which featured a Miike Snow ending of “Animal.” With the band drenched in washed out hues, they closed their set with “Better My Love” and “Keep Together” while eager hands reached to Garner.

Following Hunter Hunted was New Jersey’s Young Rising Sons. They began their set to a sea of iPhone screens and unrelenting arms as they moved into “King Of The World” and “American Renegade.” While it seems like much of Young Rising Sons’ success has something to do with frontman Andy Tongren being quite easy on the eyes, it is also their positive energy and catchy pop hooks that grabs their willing and doe-eyed audience. One of the most popular sing-alongs of their set was “Red & Gold,” but it was the hyped single “High” that packed the most melodic punch. Overall, the night concluded with a general sense of euphoria as the crowd exited the Roxy drenched in harmonies.