Young Rapids have garnered a successful following in their hometown of Washington, DC, packing sold-out shows and exciting crowds to get on their feet. For most of April, Young Rapids will tour the country, bringing their infectious spirit to ears up and down the coast. Before they take off, catch the Young Rapids at The Dunes for their tour kickoff party this Friday, March 29, which is FREE, but donations are appreciated.
Special guests will help kick off Young Rapids tour, starting with an acoustic set by Ryan Hunter Mitchell of Shark Week (8:30pm), Adios Ghost from NYC (9:30pm), and headliners Young Rapids at 10:30pm. In addition to music, there will be late night sets from DJ Joe Korbel and a synth set from Collin Crowe of Buildings.
Young Rapids—Dan Gleason, Joe Bentley, Nick Martin, and Colin Kelly—have come a long way since their debut Day Light Savings album release at the Dunes last year. In that time, they have recorded a Daytrotter session, opened for Beach Fossils to a sold-out crowd, and have moved in together to intently focus on their next moves.
Recently, Young Rapids shared their first music video for “Bad Egg,” produced by Corcoran College of Art and Design students Jenny Harnish, Emma Scott, Ben Dorger, and Rodney Sutton. “Bad Egg” captures the intimate lives of the bandmates, traveling through a scenario of everyday thought, personified by a monstrous sculpture. The monster living in the minds of the men is burned at the end in a ceremonial fire. The burden of living with the monster is lifted and the souls freed, a ritual of fire sparking both the sad feelings of an ending, but also a new beginning.
Young Rapids manage to pull every ounce of sincerity, serving up a waterfall of honest lyrics rounded out by an unexpected instrumental dance, leaving you to pause in a surprising delight at the end of their songs. At the beginning of “Dime Piece”—a song about a regrettable romantic encounter filled with unspoken thoughts—one would never expect the jolly-ending chorus of “I like it, I like it, I like it,” sung gleefully by Gleason. This simple phrase quickly turns the regrettable situation into a joyous praise, and I like it.
The excitement and vulnerability the foursome exudes before and during their live show is a heartening reminder to those curmudgeons out there that music can still be pursued from a true place. Watch out, for the spirit of the Rapids is contagious, a story with many more pages to be filled. Do join in.
Young Rapids Tour Dates:
March 29th at the Dunes (DC) TOUR KICKOFF PARTY
APRIL 2nd DURHAM, NC at MOTORCO with PAPERHAUS
APRIL 3rd SAVANNAH, GA at DOLLHOUSE
APRIL 4th SARASOTA, FL at THE JOHN & MABLE RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART
APRIL 5th TAMPA, FL at NEW WORLD BREWERY
APRIL 6th CHARLESTON, SC at BIG GUNS with PAPERHAUS
APRIL 7th JACKSONVILLE, FL at BURRO BAR
APRIL 9th ATLANTA, GA at WONDERROOT
APRIL 10th NASHVILLE, TN at TBD
APRIL 11th INDIANAPOLIS, IN at WHITE RABBIT CABARET
APRIL 12th CHICAGO, IL at TBD
APRIL 13th FORT WAYNE, IN at the Dash-In
APRIL 14th PITTSBURGH, PA at HOWLERS
