Owl City, Unicorn Kid, and Kate Havnevik Play at The School of Rock
The School of Rock in Hackensack, NJ felt more like a high school dance than your typical venue. A new generation of music lovers and their parents (at least the ones who were open-minded enough to not call this music “noise”) filled the warehouse-like club. The air was obscenely humid, but no one cared — all they wanted was for Owl City to take the stage.
Unicorn Kid opened the show with a set of upbeat synth sounds and infectious beats which made you want to get up and dance. Wearing his signature tiger hat, this 17-year-old Edinburgh boy not only brought me back to the discos in Europe but also melted every teen girl’s heart in the room. Singer-songwriter Kate Havnevik felt like a trip back to Lilith Fair. With a voice that reminds me of Sinead O’Connor, she has an interesting sound and kept the crowd entertained (despite all the technical difficulties).
Everyone held their breath waiting for Owl City to come on. And when the nicely-dressed quintet stepped onstage, the School of Rock exploded. With soothing vocals over classical strings and a steady rhythm section, this is one group you can’t avoid (not that you’d ever want to). Hearing them live reminds me a bit of Postal Service, but Owl City hold their own and bring a breath of fresh air to music that leaves you wanting more.
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For more information on Owl City, visit owlcitymusic.com.
For more information on Unicorn Kid, visit myspace.com/unicornkid.
For more information on Kate Havnevik, visit katehavnevik.com.