There was no shortage of raw indie-rock energy at The Frequency last Wednesday night where Young Empires put on a short but satisfying set. The self-described “world beat haute rockers” came out of the gates swinging, starting off with the crowd-pleasing “White Doves.” Lead singer and keyboardist Matt Vlahovich was in constant motion, periodically stepping away from the mic to add some worldly percussion to many of the tracks. There were also very few breaks between songs. Instead, the crowd was treated to an almost non-stop set that kept a small group of presumably longtime fans dancing hypnotically throughout.
Although they sounded great in The Frequency’s intimate setting, Young Empires’ songs really seem suited for larger concert halls where they can breathe a bit more. The exotic-sounding rhythms and beats of tunes like “Beaches” and “The Earth Plates Are Shifting” came off quite nicely, but their danceable electronic peaks feel deserving of a larger space. A few unreleased tracks from the forthcoming debut album were also played and featured a slightly heavier electro slant.
Reports of fans demanding encore performances of already-played songs are understandable. The band’s terrific stage presence and infectious sound suggest they are poised for bigger things but the brevity of the show certainly left everyone wanting more. Here’s hoping their first full-length album will take Young Empires one step further to achieving the large-scale status and longer sets their ambitious tunes are worthy of.