And, If It Wasn’t For That Time In The Taxi: Spacey Jane Live at the Bowery Ballroom
The sign above the crosswalk ahead of me turns from a blazing red to a muted white as it indicates approval to cross the street. Sound is pulsing through my headphones as Caleb Harper’s voice sings out, “And if it feels like failure then it's probably good for you.” I make my way across the street as “Pulling Through” from Spacey Jane’s sophomore album, Here Comes Everybody, enters its final verse before bleeding into the outro. I look up as I reach an island in the middle of the busy street to three individuals hurrying towards me, fighting against the crisp wind. And those three individuals? Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, Peppa Lane, and Kieran Lama – the guitarist, bassist, and drummer of Spacey Jane. I give them a soft smile as they run past, the trio unaware I was heading to the line of fifteen people waiting outside the Bowery Ballroom at 6:05 pm to wait for Spacey Jane’s first show in the US on their North American tour. This tour had been in the works since pre-COVID times, and after a year of waiting and ticket rescheduling, I was ecstatic for the night to finally arrive. After three of the four band members had passed me, I made my way to the Bowery front entrance, greeted by a line of fifteen or so people staring at me with their eyes wide. I pass the band’s tour bus, parked promptly outside, before reaching the front of the line. A girl turns to me and says, “Was that…?” I pull one AirPod out of my ear promptly and respond, “Yeah, I just passed Ashton, Peppa, and Kiernan.” And, later that night, I’d be second row from the stage, singing songs that provided me solace through tough times and had me dancing around my room on happy days in the Bowery Ballroom with 575 strangers, sharing a connection over this Australian band.
The electric feeling in the room that night was one that could only be curated by people sharing their love for live music. The night of October 12th started off strong with an opening performance by Joe P, an artist from Asbury Park, New Jersey, who has come onto the scene as a DIY-performer by writing, recording, and producing all of his music in his basement. His down-to-earth persona was highlighted by him taking a break between songs to encourage concertgoers to visit him by the merch stand later, where they could purchase his merchandise or “sign [his] shoes with a Sharpie!” His white sneakers were adorned with signatures from fans and friends, creating a community atmosphere that was undeniably joyful. I highly recommend checking out his music, especially his newest EP, French Blonde.
The lights go out on the Bowery Ballroom stage as Spacey Jane enters through a side door to start their set. The room fills with the noise of a rustling crowd, eager to kick off a tour that’s been on everyone’s calendars for over a year now. “Sleeping sitting up, shake another hand” fills the space as Caleb Harper sings out into the crowd, kicking off the Here Comes Everybody North American Tour. With a setlist of fifteen songs – ranging from their debut album to their sophomore album to their first-ever EPs – Spacey Jane took the stage for about an hour and, quite frankly, could’ve stayed on for an hour more. The way the band managed to engage the audience was magical, and the room was pulsing with electric energy.
A highlight of the night was the two-song encore, following their supposed closing song, “Good for You” from Sunlight. The four band members waved goodbye to the crowd as they exited out the side door of the stage. The crowd then began a chant of “Encore!” mixed with “Booster Seat!” the song that arguably put the band on the map, winning both Song of the Year at the 2021 ARIA Awards and Best Independent Song of the Year at the AIR Awards as well as being verified platinum in Australia. After mere moments, the band made their way back out. The crowd’s chant changed to “One more!”, but with having the privilege of being at the front with no barricade and eyeing the setlist, I knew the band had two songs left to play: “Lots of Nothing” and “Booster Seat.” I, along with some helpful voices around the front, put up two fingers and slyly chanted, “Two more!”. Harper gives me a wide smile before kicking off the two-encore ending to an exhilarating concert. The quartet thanks New York once again and blows kisses to the audience, making their way offstage. The lights lift in Bowery Ballroom, but the magic in the air remains. New York hasn’t seen the last of this Aussie rock band.
If you have the chance, don’t miss Spacey Jane on their North American Tour this Fall and make sure to stream their sophomore album, Here Comes Everybody.