University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Search
Search
News
Multimedia
Sports
Classifieds
Opinion
Subscribe
Entertainment
Send a Tip
Podcasts
Donate
In-Depth
Corrections

Subscribeto our newsletter

Minnesota Daily Logo

Sunday, December 15, 2019 Print Edition

Donate

  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Podcasts
  • Classifieds
  • Special Issues
  • Corrections
  • Send a Tip
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Podcasts
  • Classifieds
  • Special Issues
  • Corrections
  • Send a Tip
Search

Subscribe

The independent news source for the University of Minnesota campus, now only a click away. Subscribe to the Minnesota Daily's e-newsletter for full sports coverage, updates from the newsroom, and a pick of the week's top features.

Minnesota Daily Newsletter

Fill out my online form.

Donate to the Minnesota Daily!

The Minnesota Daily has been training student journalists and serving the University of Minnesota community since 1900. With your help, we will continue to produce award-winning journalism and provide excellent training for students in all areas of news production. We collect donations through GiveMN; please click below and donate today!

MINNESOTA DAILY | GiveMN


9/9/2018, 11:23pm

Review: SALES did not sell themselves on stage

The band’s live show at 7th Street Entry did not live up to their feel-good studio sound

By Liv Martin
Review: SALES did not sell themselves on stage
Liv Martin
SALES performs at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Sept. 5.

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print

SALES’ sold-out Wednesday night show was highly anticipated among lovers of indie pop. Fans who'd missed the window to buy tickets flocked to the event’s Facebook page, hopelessly begging for a way in. 

The band played First Avenue’s 7th Street Entry as part of the tour for their newest album, “Forever & Ever.” Unfortunately, the event wasn't as convincing as it could've been.

Seventeen-year-old sultry-pop singer Hana Vu took on the role of opener. She appeared on stage with a sheepish smile, wearing a vintage Timberwolves cut-off shirt and no makeup. Three charming high school-aged boys were in tow as her backup band. 

Vu’s age had no effect on her mature voice, which she artfully allowed to cascade over the jingling guitar and drums. She seemed comfortable on stage even though it was only her third stop on tour with SALES, asking the crowd before singing her song “426,” “Do you guys like to slow dance?”

The youthful band had a type of synergy that made it feel like you were witnessing a good house show. The drummer played a bit too loudly, but that could be forgiven due to his youth.

The vitality and immersive nature of Vu’s performance was unfortunately not recaptured during SALES’ set. The Orlando-based duo, longtime friends Lauren Morgan and Jordan Shih, were joined by drummer Malcolm Martin on tour. Morgan, the band’s front-woman, is known for the signature dreamy vocals that have made SALES a staple on Spotify’s “Bedroom Pop” playlist. 

Live, Morgan’s voice did not match its studio sound. Throughout the show her voice was so faint — almost as if she was gasping for air — that it was barely audible over the drum and guitar.

The lovely melodies featured in SALES’ recorded songs were also severed by Morgan’s punk-flavored speak-singing. This really took away from tracks like “Chinese New Year” — a song everyone in the audience knew the words for but couldn’t have the satisfaction of singing along to. 

Shih’s stage presence also seemed completely removed. He dutifully played his guitar riffs but rarely looked up or reacted to the crowd. Martin, the drummer, was the most entertaining to look at and actually seemed involved in the music-making experience. 

The best moments happened when Morgan dropped her awkward stage presence and interacted more with the crowd. It was fun to see her let her guard down more for the song “White Jeans,” where she danced amid screams of encouragement from the crowd. 

Another pocket of joy came when Morgan instructed everyone to turn on their phone flashlight, creating a 2018-version of “Now put your lighters in the air!” 

“You thought you were going to a quiet SALES show to sit back and cry,” she said. 

But moments like these were too fleeting. No one wants to watch a band that acts like playing their own songs is a chore. 

“This is our part of the set to have some fun,” Morgan said to the crowd before SALES played their final song of the night.

Why wasn't it the goal to have fun the entire set?

For a group that has played the Entry “like three other times,” their performance on Wednesday was underwhelming. SALES might be too comfortable making music from their bedrooms in Florida; live, they came off as inexperienced in front of a crowd.

The two super-fan girls in the front row might tell you something different, but for the rest of the audience there was often a big space between the musicians and the crowd — something that shouldn't have been difficult to navigate in the jam-packed, small room that is the 7th Street Entry. 

The epitome of this lack of connection happened during the finale. The final chord ended ambiguously; there was a moment when no one realized the show had just ended. SALES should take a cue from their junior counterpart, Hana Vu, and not shy away from connecting with their audience. 

Grade: C+

Share



Related Stories

Minneapolis Shoe Designer Salvatore Marcum poses for a portrait in his home studio in Brooklyn Park on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Marcum has created custom pairs for players for the Minnesota Vikings, Timberwolves and clients all over the country.

Sneakers by Salvatore: customizing shoes for the Twin Cities and beyond

By Alex Strangman

A bartender serves customers at Betty Danger’s Country Club in Northeast Minneapolis on Saturday, Dec. 7. The club held its fourth annual Betty’s Bizarre Bazaar which is an event for local artists to sell their art and homemade food supplies. 

Getting into the holiday spirit(s)

By Ksenia Gorinshteyn

Holiday cookies on display on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

College kitchen: make winter break a sweet one

By Norah Kleven


The Minnesota Daily welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.


Editor's Picks


12/12/2019, 12:07am

For many, federal protections for those with disabilities are not enough

By Hana Ikramuddin

ADA requirements may not be enough to ensure accessibility to those on campus that need it, advocates say.


12/11/2019, 9:58pm

A step to rebuild relationships: U hires director of tribal relations


12/11/2019, 8:34pm

Proposed increase in visa application fee could impact UMN students


12/11/2019, 9:28pm

After high-rise fire, Cedar-Riverside begins to heal


Podcasts


12/11/2019, 11:58pm

Episode 45: In a step to rebuild relationships, U hires director of tribal relations


12/5/2019, 8:11pm

Episode 13: Wrapping up football, Gophers head into basketball season


12/5/2019, 12:34am

Episode 44: Welcome to the star gazing party


Minnesota Daily Logo To Homepage
  • About
  • Jobs
  • Freelance
  • Contact
  • Archives
  • Advertise
  • Content Diversity
  • Ethics & Policies
  • Distribution

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2019 Minnesota Daily

Powered by Solutions by The State News.