Northside Tavern, Cincinnati, OH
February 6, 2024
Review and Gallery By: Sydney Gregory
The typical ticky shoes, clinking pool balls, and cheap drinks harmonized with the collection of indie music fans gathered around Northside Tavern. For the Cincinnati music scene, this is not a typical night. Indie rock group Coastal Club was performing, something they are slowly doing more since COVID. With more than 110k monthly listeners on Spotify, they have grown national attention in the alt-rock, bedroom pop, and indie scenes. With songs like ‘moving on’ and ‘go!’ having six figures worth of listens, ‘honey’ topped their catalog at nearly 11 million. But the spotlight was not solely on Coastal Club and their big announcement (shh, more on that later) but on Landon Conrath, who traveled from Minneapolis to perform. With an impressive 625k monthly listeners on Spotify, Conrath had been tirelessly touring for months, promoting his music. It was evident why Cincinnati would be a perfect stop on his tour; the city’s vibrant music scene, brimming with local talent, was more than welcoming to out-of-town acts. Fans filled Northside Tavern and gathered near the small bar stage to get in the action. Who expected PHANTA to open by rocking the stage as hard as they did?
PHANTA has played various sets throughout Cincinnati, OH, notably at The Comet, DSGN CLLCTV, and Legends Bar. Comprised of Trevor Labree on drums, Nick Holland on bass, and Cassidy Witt on lead vocals and guitar, they get their music influences from shoegaze and their experience on other local projects such as computersad.
They opened the show with their unreleased songs. When attending a small bar show, fans bob their head to most tracks simply because each song played is brand new to them. Yet during this set, more than nodding along to the tunes occurred. Embracing the unfamiliar yet exciting melodies, the energy on stage lets the music take center stage. They even took a moment to come to the front of the stage and riff off one another. They enjoyed playing together and interacting with each other on stage, which was endearing to the audience. It was the type of engagement you typically do not witness at large arena shows because, at a small show, the only entertainment is the band itself. They plan to release their music soon, so give them a follow to experience it yourself. Follow them on Instagram.
Coastal Club
Started in 2017 as a weekly get-together with friends to play music and goof around, Coastal Club is an indie surf rock band based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It consists of Avery Benter on bass, Alex Hirlinger on guitar and vocals, and David McGuire on drums. Inspired by surf rock, Coastal Club embodies the nostalgia of the 60s with modern pop and indie sounds. They stated in an interview with AMANDA KRESGE at Her Campus, “As we reflect on our lives in search of some of our fondest memories, many of these memories are linked to the coast. We intentionally create our music in an attempt to spread that sense of joy, nostalgia, and wonder that is associated with trips to the coast.” Surf rock might seem like an odd choice for the river-bound city of Cincinnati, OH. However, with the current wave of new music coming out of the region, other bands such as National Barks, Black Surfboards, and HARBOUR have all taken inspiration from the genre. What these artists have found is when mixed with the right lyrical content, it is truly enjoyable to all audiences.
Coastal Club filled Northside Tavern with toe-tapping poppy tunes. Playing their top songs ‘honey,’ ‘moving on,’ and ‘dreaming of.’ ‘moving on’ is one of their most energizing, getting people to jump and dance at every performance. Similarly to PHANTA, Coastal Club loves interaction among bandmates on stage and encourages fans to do the same. Often Alex would approach Avery during a riff or Alex would jump down to join the crowd in some like dancing to ‘get the blood pumping’ as Alex describes. Lastly, they announced their debut album that night, giving their hometown fans something to look forward to over the next few months.
Follow them on Instagram.
Landon Conrath, coming from Minneapolis, MN, a true midwestern (even more than we Ohioans like to claim0, started writing music in 2019 and by the end of the year he completed his first song “Pieces.” However, it was not until 2020, that it was released and garnered 14,000 plays in a single day. Today, he has 3 EPs, 2 Albums, and 18 singles out with 625k monthly listeners.
Landon and his band gave an energetic performance, with many cheering for ‘Papercuts.’ His approach to indie-pop gave it a solid midwestern-emo vibe, fitting for the venue. In between songs, band members made jokes about the area, creating a fun and approachable atmosphere. The relaxed yet excited energy continued through each song. That night ‘Replay’ was released and we were granted the honor of being the first to hear it live. This was the first time they have played in Cincinnati and they are sure to come back! Follow him on Instagram.
Surrounded by fellow music lovers, it shows how much there is still to discover in the music landscape. It’s a humbling experience, knowing that amidst the crowd, we’re all experiencing the ust here to appreciate the artistry of these up-and-coming musicians. With each track that fills the air, I feel a sense of gratitude for being part of this shared journey of musical exploration. The night was alive with the promise of musical discovery and the shared passion of all those present, a testament to the thriving spirit of the indie music scene. From discovering a new band PHANTA, learning about Coastal Club’s upcoming release, to engaging with Landon Conrath’s growing audience, each act had an incredible moment in the spotlight. Never forget your local music scene because you never know what new music you’ll discover.
The Encore Nights 