By John HillIf you ask anyone who knows me, one of the first facts they can probably confirm is that I am a music nerd. Always have been and always will be. One of the traits of a music dork is that they leave no stone unturned in their never-ending search for new cool music. As a result, any time I go to a concert I always arrive early so I can see the opening act. Oftentimes this leads to disappointment or a trip to the bar for a refill before the main act comes on, but every once in a while I come across an opening act so good that I have to know more. Such was the case this past February when I saw St. Lucia open for Ellie Goulding at the Ogden Theater.
For those of you not in the know, St. Lucia is primarily the brainchild of Jean-Philip Grobler, a native of South Africa who now calls Brooklyn home. His music is what I would call “ethereal 80s,” and reminds me of the album cuts from artists like Thompson Twins, Peter Gabriel, Howard Jones and Spandau Ballet that you thought you were the only person in the world who really appreciated. A self-titled EP was released in March of last year, and the band has toured steadily since then. By the time I saw St. Lucia in February, they were already testing out new material in anticipation of a full-length debut later in 2013. That time has now come, as When the Night will see the light of day here in the US on October 8th.
To whet our appetites, there has been a steady trickle of music released, and it hasn’t disappointed at all. First buzz cut “Elevate” carries that New Romantic vibe of the 80s off on gentle breeze and Grobler’s soaring vocals, and second track “Too Close” brings the synths front and center for a slow build to a chorus punctuated by rapid-fire drums. If they were trying to hook me into being excited for When the Night next month, then it is mission accomplished. Add to that their return to Denver on October 21st as an opening act for Two Door Cinema Club and my month will be made. Check out their latest down below, and then grab tickets to their opening gig at the Ogden Theater here.
