GALLERY: Sunny Day Real Estate
TORONTO, ON | APRIL 26, 2023 | BY FABIANA MOREIRA
Following the band’s fourth reincarnation, Sunny Day Real Estate performed through a varied selection of tracks chronicling their entire catalog. The Seattle-based emo pioneers, originally formed in 1992, have certainly gained a following over the years, being cited as an influence for many current artists in the same vein, and adjacent genres such as post-hardcore and indie rock. This was evident as many generations of fans were in attendance, yet the energy felt quite unified.
The band started with “Pillars”, the opening track off of their third album, “How It Feels to Be Something On”, a great choice to slowly set the tone for the evening with its gradual build-up. The 12-song setlist, including a 4-track encore, bounced around seamlessly between each of their albums, having something in store for each of their fans. There were choice cuts such as “J’Nuh” and “Red Elephant”, and they reserved more well-known songs such as “Seven” for later in the setlist just prior to the encore, leaving everyone shouting for more. In particular, during the chorus, the crowd erupted, mirroring the explosiveness of the track.
Frontman Jeremy Enigk was elated yet humbled when he addressed the audience throughout, adding in small anecdotes that somewhat hinted at what they would next perform. Every member was truly comfortable being there and fed off each other’s performance, making it hard to believe that this was their first live run in years. Prior to them even coming on stage, many fans discussed and reminisced about their first time discovering the band, and recounting memories of their earlier years. Enigk’s simple and sensitive lyrics, open to different degrees of interpretation, were a big draw in bringing people in, touching on themes such as love, despair, and longing. This combined with a drone-like and hypnotic delivery of the rest of the instruments, as well as catchy hooks, helped to form their signature sound, of which you can hear ripples of their influence through current acts such as Jimmy Eat World.
Coming back to their set, their second last song of the evening, “In Circles”, arguably their most well-known, had everyone jumping and screaming each line, setting up for a perfect cool-down in closer “Days Were Golden”. As they neared the end of this, each member slowly exited the stage one-by-one to loud applause and cheers, leaving drummer William Goldsmith to perform the final solo.
The band have now completed the final legs of their reunion tour, however they have a couple of festival appearances later this year, as well as on the S.S. Neverender Cruise Ship tour, opening up for Coheed and Cambria.
