Lydia live in DC 3/18/18
9:30 Club
Looking for the next big thing; for that group you could say you “knew about before they were big”?
Look no further than Lydia.
Lydia is an indie rock group based out of Gilbert, Arizona. Formed in 2003, the band is no stranger to the music industry. With five full-length albums and three EPs to date, they have perfected the craft of musicianship. The only thing that seems to have been holding them back was the rest of the world: the industry was simply not ready for their dark brand of pop music.
The mid 2010’s have been a turning point, however. Current trends in music have seen an embrace of dark, ambient, anthemic pop -- something Lydia has perfected. Their latest single, Goodside, is reminiscent of world-renowned acts like Imagine Dragons and PVRIS, as well as up-and-coming acts of similar styles, such as Billie Eilish and LANY. Having signed to Weekday Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music in 2017, Lydia now has the backing of industry greats and a perfect musical climate to break out into the mainstream.
In seeing them live, their impending success became even less of a question of “if” and more of “when.” Playing at the 9:30 club in Washington, DC, Lydia commanded the stage, their anthemic music and gloomy lighting put the entire crowd into a trance. Vocalist Leighton Antelman gave an energetic performance, bouncing along to the music, all whilst hitting every note. His energy was nicely complimented by the rhythmic movements of the other members, whose stage presences seemed to pay homage to the style of the xx; another band whose music has undoubtedly made an influential mark on Lydia’s sound.
I expect that not too long from now, Lydia will be headlining their own shows at the 9:30 club, and later, venues with much greater capacities. 2018 is shaping up to be a huge year for Lydia, who have finally been dealt a good hand -- and, if they play their cards right, current fans will very soon be able to say that they “knew them when.”
Keep an eye out for their new album, Liquor, out on July 13, 2018, and make sure to catch them on tour.
Lydia live in DC Photos