A night with The Drums: Live at the Fremont Theatre
On Nov. 8, the black curtain draped across the Fremont Theatre’s projector dropped, revealing “The Drums” scribed across a blue-tainted backdrop as the indie band took the stage.
Following a set from special guest Yungatita, the dissonance of The Drums’ 2024 track “Bell Laboratories” echoed throughout the crowd in eager anticipation.
The audience erupted as lead singer Jonny Pierce reached for a microphone in his black leather jacket, which featured red and white rhinestones down the sides and initials “JP” stamped on the back. He was accompanied on stage by bassist Johnny Aries, guitarist Frank Corr and drummer Oscar Henfrey.
Pierce regarded the band’s stop in San Luis Obispo as the “Wednesday” of their journey, with six shows left of their 2024 USA and South American tour. When in the middle of an 18-show tour, the band needed some extra juice, he said, something he lucked out on with the exhilarated crowd at the Fremont Theatre.
The band opened with tracks off of their 2011 album “Portamento,” including “If He Likes It Let Him Do It,” “Days” and “What You Were,” with their hits “Heart Basel” and “Best Friend” nostalgically wedged in between.
After ending that section of music on a high note, Pierce took a moment to reflect on his newest album “Jonny,” the product of a four year period of introspection within his life.
“Know yourself and when to love yourself a little more,” he said, describing life as a flower in which you are the center, and each petal is a different channel within the self. “They all just become more vibrant if the center is, kind of, fixed a little bit.”
His declamation acts as a core theme within the record, but specifically echoes through “Better,” a track which reflects on loneliness and the illusion that solitude can be more fulfilling than company. Pierce’s transparent lyrics contrasted the upbeat and bright tune as it rang throughout the sea of people.
Pierce then sang the closing line of “I Can’t Pretend,” walking the length of the stage and blowing kisses before he disappeared with the stage lights.
The audience murmured in confusion, as there was one fan favorite that had yet to be performed. Chants of “Money! Money! Money!” broke out amongst the red-lit faces of hope.
Pierce slowly approached the mic and amid the cheers, the familiar tune of “Money” turned the bright green crowd into a chorus, with the frontman’s movement conducting their voices.
The band closed with the melancholic tunes, “I Don’t Know How To Love” and “I Want It All” before they faded from the Fremont stage, ready to continue up the coast as they finish a long-winded tour.
