Concert Review: Dayglow (The Ritz Raleigh)

BY ANDREA REINWALD

On Wednesday night, The Ritz Raleigh came alive as Dayglow, led by Sloan Struble, delivered an unforgettable performance that was a testament to their high-energy, indie-rock charm. With the recent release of his self-titled album Dayglow, Sloan promised a show that would be "rowdy indie-rock until you can't dance anymore (and even then, we'll still keep playing)." The Raleigh crowd got exactly that -- a nonstop dance party that left everyone exhilarated.

The stage setup had a large glowing star behind the drummer, Brady Knippa, that shifted colors throughout the night, and the band's name, "DAYGLOW," spelled out in bold white letters across the stage.

The show kicked off with a minor technical glitch, but this only served to amplify the crowd's excitement. As Sloan decided to restart the intro, the audience's cheers grew even louder, setting a high-spirited tone for the rest of the night.

Sloan's easygoing, joyful stage presence was absolutely infectious. Before singing a fan-favorite "Close to You," Sloan hyped the crowd with a shout: "Alright Raleigh, let's freaking party!" The crowd responded immediately, dancing and singing along as soon as the band played the first note to the next song. Couples spun each other around, friends jumped in unison, and others nodded their heads in rhythm.

During their acoustic set, they performed "Crying On The Dancefloor," "Like She Goes," and "Fuzzybrain." The band decided to put a little country spin to "Fuzzybrain," which isn't what the original sounds like but was a fun way to show their creative spin to it live.

Dayglow closed the night with "Run the World," with flashing colorful lights syncing perfectly with the electrifying guitar solos, igniting the already energetic crowd and making the atmosphere louder. The music venue pulsated with vibrant energy and vivid colors, leaving everyone buzzed with energy and smiling as they exited the venue.

SETLIST
"Junior Varsity / Broken Bone"
"Silver Lining"
"Hot Rod"
"Then It All Goes Away"
"Cocoon"
"Every Little Thing I Say I Do"
"Fair Game"
"Balcony"
"What People Really Do"
"Medicine"
"Weatherman"
"Crying on the Dancefloor"
"Like She Does"
"Fuzzybrain"
"Old Friend, New Face"
"This Feeling"
"Nothing Ever Does!!!"
"Mindless Creatures"
"Can I Call You Tonight?"
"Close to You"
"False Direction"
"Listerine"
"Run the World!!!"

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ANDREA REINWALD

Andrea Reinwald is originally from Florida and has moved across the country twice, first from Florida to Alaska and then from Alaska to North Carolina. Often called "the girl who’s always at a concert" by her friends, Andrea’s love for music has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Since picking up instruments in middle school, Andrea found that concert photography offers the best of both worlds, blending her passion for music with her love for visual storytelling. Whether it's pop, indie, rock, Latin, or EDM, you'll likely find her in the crowd, camera in hand. Check out her work on IG at @andreavphotos!

Read Andrea's posts here.