For those who aren’t yet acquainted with Grouplove, NME says that Grouplove is what Arcade Fire would have “sounded like if no-one had ever died.” The band finds fans gravitating toward its unique part punk-rock, part techno-pop sound. And its lyrics, like “I’d rather be a hippie than a hipster,” hit home with millennials across the world.
Grouplove will take the stage at the Rialto Theatre on Thursday at 8 p.m.
The U.S.-based band was formed in 2009 in Greece. Hannah Hooper, Christian Zucconi, Sean Gadd, Andrew Wessen and Ryan Rabin make up the band. With all of the band’s members — sans its drummer, Ryan Rabin — filling in vocals, its sound is a clearly well-rounded one. With Hooper on keys, Zucconi and Wessen on guitar and Gadd on bass, they created “Ways to Go,” a song from their new album, Spreading Rumours, that has over 5 million views on YouTube.
They do a unique job of mashing a tune that makes the listener happily think back to that sunny day on the swing set, with lyrics that remind us we all, inevitably, have to leave the playground. That mixture of elation and melancholy, is a trait that Grouplove brings into many of its songs.
Its peace-over-everything-else aura is obvious just from listening to one track, and those vibes are bound to be amplified tenfold throughout the Rialto. The Theatre opened in 1920 and has headlined some bands that undoubtedly influenced Grouplove’s sound, such as Modest Mouse, and bands that are creating their own infectious rock sound, like Cage the Elephant.
“If you love Grouplove, you won’t be disappointed in their live show which is infectious and just plain fun,” writes Littlebylisten.com. The writer continues to say that even if you aren’t Grouplove’s number-one fan, “the band will win you over with its charisma and chemistry.”
The album Grouplove will be headlining at Thursday’s concert, Spreading Rumours, received four stars from Rolling Stone’s community. Since the band members all write songs together, each musician giving their own input, Ryan Rabin said that “the variety in the musical taste and writing styles of each member really makes each of our songs unique.” He continued to say that “the honest, open-minded process we go through in rehearsal and in the studio brings the songs home and gives them the ‘Grouplove’ sound.”
Idolator.com wrote about Grouplove’s show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, saying that “their rollicking, sun-kissed tunes were lapped up by the adoring crowd,” making for “one of alt-pop’s best live acts with a superbly performed set.”
The show is general standing room only, and the tickets are $23-$26. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.
@DailyWildcat
