The Los Angeles indie band, Coast Modern, stopped by Stubb’s on Tuesday as part of their first headlining tour promoting their debut self-titled album.

Story by Francie Zenner

The evening showers didn’t stop fans from lining up outside the venue hours before the sold-out show started. When the doors finally opened, the excitement grew. People eagerly filed down the old wooden stairs of the intimate venue and crowded around the stage as those in the upper bar level grabbed their drinks and headed to the balcony to get a good view.

Opening for the indie-rock duo was the Colombian alternative duo, Salt Cathedral. The singer and guitarist held their own on the daunting stage and captivated the crowd with their strong presence, eclectic sound and mesmerizing light show. Despite their growing fan base across the country, singer Juliana Ronderos acknowledged the lasting impression made by Austin’s southern hospitality. “Our greatest fan is from Austin. She’s just so nice, it’s incredible,” she said.

Toward the end of the set, Ronderos and Nicolas Losada, the second half of the alternative band, encouraged the crowd to dance along with them. “We’re all the same. We’re all the same because we all dance,” the duo said. They ended the set with a unique spin on Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name.”

As the audience’s anticipation grew, Coast Modern’s guitarist, Luke Atlas, and singer, Coleman Trapp, ran on stage with their instruments and pink piñata, followed by the drummer and bassist. Trapp and Atlas set the tone for the audience’s journey through their self-described “psychedelic jungle” with “Going Down.” The song about never dying was reminiscent of 1960s rock, filled with tempo changes and psychedelic synths and complemented by the contrasting red and blue lights that illuminated the entire venue.

The band continued their upbeat set with more introspective songs like “Animals” and “Tiny Umbrella.” Shortly after, the band lightened things up with a slow, mellow cover of D.R.A.M.’s “Cute.”

The next song performed was their 2016 single, “Guru.” The oldie evoked nostalgia for the duo, as Trapp reminisced about how the first ever Coast Modern show was in Austin. The Beach Boys/reggae/pop hybrid sound catalysed a newfound wave of energy within the room, blurring the line between musician and crowd. “Austin, you are our gurus,” Trapp said.

Halfway through the concert, Trapp acknowledged the pink piñata resting in the back corner of the stage. The drummer offered her drumsticks to massacre the small mass of tissue paper, but Atlas threw it into the sea of people instead.

As soon as Atlas strummed the trancing melody of “Wild Things,” the entire crowd went silent, dedicating their full attention to Trapp as they listened and grasped his every lyric. The band reminded the audience that the beauty of live music lies within the connection between the crowd and musicians. “Wild Things,” a song about appreciating the moment instead of worrying about the uncontrollable, gave substance to this connection.

“Are you ready to get psychedelic,” Trapp asked the crowd enthusiastically, encouraging each audience member to participate in the next song. “Close your eyes so you can look inside your imagination.” Trapp’s digression, creating a backstory set in the midst of the Amazon rainforest, set the tone for “Comb My Hair,” a transformative song fittingly reminiscent of an acid trip.

Before thanking Austin and heading off stage, Trapp and Atlas finished the set with “The Way it Was.” As the audience chanted and pleaded for an encore, the duo ran back on stage, Atlas holding a Texas flag with “Coast Modern” written on it. They ended the night with their first 2015 single, “Hollow Life.”

After the show ended, Coast Modern and Salt Cathedral hung out near the merchandise tables and greeted  fans. Two lucky people went home with the piñata and Coast Modern flag as others left with signatures, merchandise and photos. However, no material objects compared to the memorable ”psychedelic journey” every audience member experienced through Coast Modern’s fresh alternative rock performance.