Performing in front of small crowds can be difficult for a musician. Energy may be lacking, each audience member becomes noticeable and distractions are amplified. Despite playing for roughly 20 fans at The Rebel Lounge on Oct. 10th, quickly, quickly (QQ) made it a night to remember.
For those who are unfamiliar, quickly, quickly is the bedroom psychedelic music project of Oregon-based singer and multi-instrumentalist Graham Jonson. He began his music career by producing lo-fi hip hop and jazz instrumentals, and now has garnered a fanbase with his comforting vocal tone and multilayered instrumental compositions.
The night began with a passionate acoustic solo set from Andrew Saks of Goodbye Ranger, which was highlighted by his somber lyrics and ethereal drum loops.
The energy in the room shifted when Vinyl Williams began his performance. An overhead projector painted the band with colorful VHS footage, which perfectly captured the vintage essence of the band. Williams had the crowd hypnotized throughout the set with songs like “Noumena” and “Petroglyph,” the ladder coming from his most recent record “Aeterna.”
After a brief intermission, it was time for quickly, quickly to take the stage with his three bandmates. He instantly recognized the size of the crowd, advising the listeners to “get comfy, be wherever you want to be, and we are gonna have a good night.”
QQ began the set with an unreleased piano driven ballad that set the tone for an intimate evening. He would spend the night splitting time playing keyboards, guitars and fooling around on various audio interfaces.
After playing a handful of unreleased songs, he said the show would consist solely of new material from his upcoming album, which is set to be released next year. He recognized the unorthodox style of show, but deemed that he preferred playing music that listeners are absorbing for the first time.
With the help of his band, QQ kept the crowd engaged throughout the show with uptempo drum patterns and jagged guitar riffs.
The sole song that had been previously released was his cover of Nick Drake’s 1972 track “From The Morning.” QQ’s rendition of the oldie sounds nearly identical to the original, with sharper production and vocals.
The set came to a grand conclusion with yet another unreleased, untitled anthem that echoed throughout the lounge. A mix of gloomy piano chords, swirling guitar licks and chaotic drum punches left the crowd stunned and excited for the new record to be released.
After a brief “thank you” to the crowd, the band scurried backstage. The memorable night had officially come to an end.
Quickly, quickly can be found on tour across the United States and Canada until Nov. 5.