Darlingside Tickets

They are an outstanding group and look forward to seeing them again.

This was the return of Darlingside to touring after Covid and recording 2 albums. Was concerned that they wouldn’t be as good without Dave their wonderful tenor singer. Well they were accompanied by a great drummer and 2 females and they sounded as good if not better than th previous 8 times we’ve seen them. Now, about the venue, Brooklyn Made… Concert was listed at 7 pm. First act came on at 8:20. Darlingside after 9:30. It’s a standing room venue, so by the end of the concert we stood for 4 hours! Be prepared. Sound system and lighting are great. If you’re young and don’t mind standing, it’s a great place. Personally I’d rather see them in a seated theater.

I’m guessing it’s mostly long-time fans at the show, but if you like alt-folk-rock, e.g. the Lumineers or Mumford & Sons, you’ll probably enjoy Darlingside. They’re cerebral and spirited, and create folk music from a 90’s alternative perspective. They just changed up the line- up with the departure of one founding band member, Dave Sendt, and the addition of three new band members, who’s names I did not look up, but added more strings, keys, and drums. The shift was maybe a bit much for some in the mostly older crowd, who had a few grumbles about the two new (woman) artists sharing the vocal solos occasionally. I, however, found the show very refreshing, and still spiced up by commentary from Auyon, who introduces the band with some fun facts about their life off-stage. The band has definitely evolved in the decade that I’ve been going to their shows. Their break-out album was “Birds Say,” which was their first in a pure folk (or alt-folk-rock) sound, taking the last track (The Ancestor, which was a folky departure from the rest of that prior album) from their previous album, and placing it first on Birds Say. The rest just flows from there, into 2018’s “Extralife,” and their mostly pandemic-recorded album, “Fish Pond Fish.” True to form, the set list was fairly even with songs from each of their now four folk-rock albums. I add this only because they just released an album this year, “Everything is Alive.” There are some real bangers on it, and they did play a smattering of 6 songs off that album, although not my favorite song, “All the Lights in the City,” which may or may not be about being depressed in Chicago. There was also at least one “deep cut,” “Extralife,” which is the 0:45 opener to that album; they had seem a YouTube video of a family in Charlottesville covering it. All in all, it was a great show, I just wish they would play “A Light On In The Dark” off of “Fish Pond Fish.” I think it would really jam live.

Darlingside is a wonderful band that in my opinion sounds just utterly beautiful. Seeing them in person was something I was never sure I would be able to do and I cannot express how excited I was when I heard they were coming around. The show was full of great music but also whenever the band spoke it was more than just a transition to the next song filling the space with personality. Seeing their individual instrumental talents in person definitely elevates everything they already had. I've been a fan for years though and am biased but I believe the person behind me was new to them and I cannot count the number of times they just said "wow" throughout the show.

Darlingside has continued to develop new songs and evolve over the years. For those who don't know them, it's an indie folk-pop sound with classical overtones. Their vocal sound has changed with the addition of a female singer/bassist. Wishing them greater success.

The Southern no longer has chairs. At all! It's also a dark and claustrophobic space. It wouldn't be so bad to stand up if it was a dance band. But it wasn't. And the opening act wasn't even swayable. The band's female singer was the opening act. She added a lot to the group but was boring on her own. And it pushed the concert to start rather late for a work/school night. Darlingside is very talented though.

It was the perfect storm. Pitch perfect harmonies, superb musical talent, all my favorite instruments and songs that warmed the soul. Hope they are invited back to Charlottesville.

First having heard Darlingside two years ago in Randolph, Vermont, we have been following them fairly carefully. Delighted with their album "Birds Say," we were disappointed with what we found to be a step back with the album after "Birds Say." We went to the concert in the Somerville Theatre on Sept. 18 wondering what we would hear (and see). And we were delighted. We thought the mix of songs from their recent work and "Birds Say" was spot on. Some of the new pieces, especially those that involved the quartet singing with instrumental accompaniment, were touching and on a par with their best vocal work. The songs they chose to include from "Birds Say" were somewhat stronger than what we first heard in Vermont--and we were again struck by the oft amusing repartee. We look forward to their next concert!

First time seeing Darlingside - so great! Highly recommend seeing them, beautiful harmonies.

Darlingside never disappoints. The harmonies, instrumentals and even the “banter” blend to create a magical evening. Wonderful to see them in Somerville. They are a group of incredibly talented and delightful men.