This year’s Finals Fest, featuring Rec Hall and Young the Giant and opened by the local band LH Factor, impressed longtime fans and won new listeners for both bands. The event took place on Thursday, May 7, from 7-10 p.m. at the University of Idaho’s ICCU Arena.
“I loved the performance. Their stage etiquette was great. They were jumping and getting everyone hyped,” said Hannah Burnham, a sophomore in nursing at North Idaho College and a fan of Young the Giant.
“I’m okay with not being able to hear, ‘cause it was awesome,” she added.
Young the Giant, which first formed in 2004, sifted through both old and new throughout their performance, ranging from their enduring 2008 song “Cough Syrup” to releases from their newest album, “Victory Garden.” The crowd was receptive to all songs, responding with verses, dancing or jumping when prompted.
As a headliner and a more established band, Young the Giant’s set was defined by a cool professionalism and reflection on their past and was aided by impressive lighting and a smoke machine. Like Young the Giant, Rec Hall had an effortless stage presence.
Rec Hall’s performance was a lot simpler, though. It featured antics and jokes, including continuous engagement between vocalist John Barry and guitarist Ben Tyrrell. It matched their casual surf-rock style and warmed up the audience for the rest of the evening.
“Rec Hall— I really like them,” said Burnham. “I’m going to listen to them on the ride home. I really like finding openers that are good, and then it just opens a whole new branch of music. In their case, I really liked their first song ‘Desire.’”
Barry appealed to the audience over both his experience of Moscow and his appreciation for Young the Giant.
“I was probably in fifth or sixth grade, and I [said] to my guitar teacher, ‘Hey, I want to learn how to play ‘Cough Syrup,’” said Barry. “And you know what he said? He said no, so I never learned how to play ‘Cough Syrup.’ I still love that song. I’ll save it for the professionals.”
Some members of the audience would have already related to Barry’s enthusiasm for the band, but others would fully understand only after the evening was over.
“I did listen to [Young the Giant’s] music this morning, and I actually really liked everything I heard,” said Kimarie Ker, a UI senior majoring in philosophy and exercise science.
“I’ve been getting more into music like this— kind of the more, like, sultry rock vibes,” she said. “I loved the guitar, I thought the artist had an amazing voice. I think they’re definitely somebody that I would like to see again if I get the opportunity.”
Cal Torres can be reached at [email protected]