Still Woozy’s Laid-Back Sound Propels A Party @CSMH

Singer-songwriter Still Woozy (a.k.a. Sven Eric Gamsky) reminded the audience at College Street Music Hall Friday night just how nice it is to experience live music together at a concert. The collective dancing and singing of the packed crowd offered a sense of pre-pandemic nostalgia, if only for a moment.

Audience members — overwhelmingly high-school and college students — began lining up outside of College Street Music Hall before 7 p.m. to get spots near the stage in the general admission area of the venue. Attendees were required to show proof of vaccination upon entry, and staff stayed vigilant to enforce masking, sometimes by offering masks to those who didn’t have them.

It was a rare warm night in February, so many opted to forgo a coat; the bulk can weigh you down while dancing. The lobby before the show was reminiscent of first days back at school: a friend recognizing another, shouting their name, and running to embrace. With many schools going virtual in the wake of the spike in the Omicron variant, a concert provided the perfect space for much-needed socializing.

​“Indie-pop sensation from Los Angeles” Wallice opened the show at about 8 p.m., playing her hits ​“23” and ​“Punching Bag,” which reflect the kind of Gen‑Z autobiographical honesty that contemporary indie listeners crave. The 23-year-old musician introduced her band: Caleb Buchanan on keys, bass, and vocals; Callaghan Kevany on guitar; and Corey Gordon on drums. 

Wallice — one of four acts opening for Still Woozy throughout his tour, along with Loveleo, Efe, and Legwurk.— played several other bedroom-pop songs off her debut EP Off The Rails along with a Nirvana cover. She also took time to remind audience members to stay hydrated: ​“Concerts can be a little overwhelming, a little toasty, if you’re not used to them in a while.” Attention to the well-being of audience members has become an increasingly necessary facet of live music performance in the wake of a poorly-managed Travis Scott concert that killed ten and injured hundreds last November. Security enforced crowd-control policies and provided immediate medical attention to one concert-goer who fainted.

Still Woozy came on at about 9:30 p.m. with ​“Window,” which samples Marvin Gaye vocals to create ​“an era-blending jam.” Audience members sang back every word as Gamsky turned the mic on the crowd for the chorus. The band — including drummer Harry Terrell and guitarist/synths player Tani — highlighted Still Woozy’s debut album If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is. Still Woozy’s spirited energy matched that of the crowd, as they jumped, danced, and jammed to the songs. The band seemed as happy to be there as the audience, which seemed to be sold out.

Gamsky started off wearing a checkered bucket hat and black puffer coat, both of which he removed in the first few songs. His boy-next-door appearance isn’t exactly what you’d expect given the psychedelic groove of his music, but his talent and passion for the music became evident as he embodied the sound throughout the set.

Gamsky and Tani had an electric dynamic as they shared the role of engaging the audience across the stage, which was decorated with a backdrop of painted greenery and the band’s name in pink bubble letters, while several potted plants sat among the instruments in the back. During one song, band members shed their instruments to dance together. Tani grabbed one of the set plants and held it above her head as she swayed her body to the beat.

The band came back on for an encore at around 10:30 p.m. and played their first big hit, ​“Goodie Bag,” to the raucous cheering of the crowd. Security guards were dancing along to the track, which features satisfying sing-along lyrics like ​“joke’s on you / It’s time to come through” and ​“What the fuck is real? / What the fuck is wrong?”

Still Woozy’s If This Isn’t Nice tour began on Jan. 31 in Washington, D.C., has dates all around the U.S. and Canada, and will conclude on July 22 at a music festival in Australia.