Live Show Recap: Jeremy Zucker 11/22

On the Monday before Thanksgiving, I found myself battling Washington D.C. traffic at an hour that was unusually close to my bedtime. After over a year and half of the pandemic ruining all that is holy to me (i.e. live music) I was finally making a pilgrimage to my favorite concert spot, the 9:30 Club. I had my usual strategy in mind: We could pull up at 7:00pm when the doors open, park in our usual spot, grab a bite to eat, and then be-bop into the venue right before the headliner starts. I also naively assumed that this was a “small show” and it wouldn’t be “too crowded.” After all, I had never heard of Jeremy Zucker. I was there with my friend Meredith who was a big fan, but as the resident pop musicologist of my inner circle, I was woefully unfamiliar with his music. 

As we pull into the very last available spot in the parking lot, it occurs to me that maybe I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about. Despite the 30-degree temperature outside, the line for the door wraps all the way around the block. “It’s fine, I don’t need dinner,” I think to myself. When you’re a 5’1” music lover, finding a good spot to watch the show takes precedence over literally any other bodily function. Thankfully, there is a coffee bar on the second floor of the venue (did I mention 9:30 Club is my favorite?) and I was able to make a meal of an Irish Cream Coffee and a cupcake. Maybe it was the luck of the Irish, but Meredith and I managed to find a couple of balcony bar stools in perfect view of the stage. Our night was already off to a great start. 

Opening the show was psychedelic-pop duo Valley Boy. With long tresses, funky instrumentals, and soaring vocals, San Fernando Valley natives James Ghaleb and Ian Meltzer grabbed my attention right away. As I watched the middle school besties banter with the audience and each other, I felt a twinge of nostalgia for a genre of music that I lovingly describe as “friendcore.” It’s the kind of music you can only hear played live by your college buds at the off-campus dive bar. I have no doubt Valley Boy has played in such venues before. The twosome has an energy that makes a packed room feel intimate and warm, and they’re also wicked funny. Before concluding the feel-good set of five songs, the pair led the crowd in a tongue-in-cheek rally cry, “Valley Boy sucks!” The nightly tradition feels fitting for a couple of irreverent California pals living their best life on tour.  

Next came Toronto-based Babygirl, a duo that self-identifies as “bubblegum emo.” Composed of Kiki Frances, Cameron Breithaupt, and their touring drummer Miles, the group played through seven of their dreamiest indie-pop tracks, as well as a timely cover of Taylor Swift’s “Treacherous.” I imagine that fans of Phoebe Bridgers and Soccer Mommy would appreciate Frances’ sweet, airy vocals and vulnerable lyrics, as well as the warm, back-up harmonies offered by Breighthaupt. Their breezy tunes seem perfect for solo driving, whether in a rainstorm or on a summer road trip. Either way, Babygirl served to warm up our tear ducts for what I could only assume would be a cathartic performance from our headliner. 

When at last Jeremy Zucker graced the stage, the energy in the room was electric. The sold out show was the last stop on a tour that visited twenty venues nationwide, and fans were ready to give Zucker and his band a proper send off. Through an eighteen song setlist that seamlessly wove heartfelt confessionals with rowdy “fuck off” anthems, the crowd showed their devotion to the 25-year-old singer-songwriter in classic sing-along style. The love went both ways, with Zucker bringing multiple fans on stage to thank them for the posters and gifts they created. The New Jersey native had a quiet magnetism and easy-going charm that showed through his interactions with the audience, his band, and his tourmates, but when the music started, his exuberance lit up the room. Despite the fact that I had spent little time with his discography, I was completely absorbed by his performance. The lights, the sound, the connection between an artist and his fans – it all reminded me why I need live music in my life. I’m glad I gave Jeremy Zucker a chance. He is a true talent and I am so excited to have new music to dive into over the holidays. What are your favorite Jeremy Zucker tunes? Let me know in the comments below. 

FULL SET LIST:
we’re fucked, it’s fine
Therapist
all the kids are depressed
always, i’ll care
better off
i-70
not ur friend
full stop
julia
somebody loves you
comethru
scared
What’s My Age Again? (Blink-182 cover)
lakehouse
HONEST
Cry with you
you were good to me
18
supercuts