The Backseat Lover's | Eugene, OR
On August 14th, The Backseat Lovers visited Eugene’s McDonald Theatre on the second run of their Turning Point tour. It was the second to last stop on the 10-stop tour. Their return to Eugene was highly anticipated after the show had been rescheduled in March. It was the talk of the town for weeks, and the line was out the door until minutes before the show began. People in line were buzzing with excitement and playing their music as they waited in line to get into the sold-out show. The indie-rock quartet is a fan favorite in the college town.
Their opening act, Mercury, had got the crowd excited with a sound that perfectly complemented The Backseat Lovers’ indie-rock vibe. They got screams of admiration and lots of “I love you's" which the lead singer Maddie happily returned every time one was yelled out. They played some of their newly released songs like “I Don’t Know You Like I Used To” and “Moment”. They also played a cover of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Brutal”, which the crowd loved and screamed along with every word.
The 30 minutes between Mercury’s set and the beginning of The Backseat Lover’s set filled the room with anticipation. Fans at the barricade were holding gifts for the band and getting signs ready on their iPhones as they waited. When the lights went down and the band walked out on stage, the crowd erupted in screams and cheers. The band was charming and sounded exactly like their recorded music. The lead singer Joshua Harmon was filled with energy and had an incredible voice live. The band had great chemistry on stage. They played many fan favorites through the night like “Kilby Girl” and “Maple Syrup”. Although a situation erupted in the middle of the show, the band handled it with grace and gave a gentle reminder to be kind to people. They got the show rolling right after and got everyone in the mood to dance and sing along again. They shared stories about their time in Eugene and their appreciation of the town, which received lots of applause.
Just a day after the show, they announced their newest album Waiting to Spill, which will be released on October 28th. The band teased two new songs off the album during the performance and it was well received by the crowd who were dancing and singing along once they got the chorus down. The band walked off stage, but the show was not over yet. The show ended with a cover of a Led Zeppelin song with the lead singer of their opening band, Mercury. The crowd went crazy! It was the first time they had performed the cover together, and it was the perfect way to end the night. I am definitely looking forward to hearing their newest album after such a fun and incredible show.
