This week, Peach Pit and Briston Maroney hit the first stop on the road together with their highly anticipated ‘Long Hair, Long Life’ tour at The Met in Philadelphia. With both headliners having just released new albums this past year, the show was full of all their familiar favorites as well as a ton of brand new exciting hits.
It seemed almost too obvious for these headliners to pair up and go on tour together this year. Both Peach Pit and Briston exemplify a discography that has remained true to their own individual sound that their fans have known and loved for so many years, while simultaneously evolving to experiment with a couple of different genres.
I fell in love with this music when I was in college, and it’s stuck with me through so many phases of my life since then. It’s exciting when an artist grows alongside you, whether they know it or not. So, naturally, I was head-over-heels excited to see them on tour together. The presence they each bring to the stage feels like watching a couple of your best friends jamming out and having the absolute best time doing it.
Briston Maroney
After BNNY’s beautiful introduction to the ‘Long Hair, Long Life’ debut show, the fans eagerly awaited for their beloved Briston Maroney’s entrance.
It’s immediately clear that Maroney has an unprecedentedly intimate connection with his audience. His stage, decorated with moss-covered rocks and bountiful sea creatures transports the crowd into his magnificent and wild mind. We were lucky enough to hear some of the first performances of songs off of his new album, “JIMMY”, a collection of tracks that explore personal identity crisis, relationship turmoil, regret .. you know, everything we all know a little too well.
I’ve blasted Briston’s music in the car longer (and louder) than I’d like to admit, but to hear it live was a totally different experience. It’s almost as if he’s singing to each member of the audience individually. At one point, Briston took a moment by a dimly lit campfire to acknowledge the frustration of the world and remind everyone that “you belong here”.
Peach Pit
As if it couldn’t get any better, we still had Peach Pit to look forward to. They came in hot and heavy with their new single, “Magpie” off their new album with the same name, and the crowd immediately matched the band’s energy. The Met vibrated and shook in ways that I imagine could only compare to a sports bar in Philly after the last superbowl.
Peach Pit is really cool because their music isn’t overwhelmingly intense or loud, but they are able to utilize their instruments and voices in a way that could send chills down your spine. Lead singer and frontman Neil Smith, showed off his full head of shoulder-length curls as he immersed himself so heavily in each song. The band has a plethora of songs that explore different subjects and sounds that the audience has connected to for years.
I really enjoyed hearing all of the familiar classics like “Alrighty Aphrodite” and “Shampoo Bottles” that I remember so fondly shaping my music taste in college. Selfishly, this show felt like a bit of a full circle moment for me. I spent a majority of four years feeling really alone and lost in Pennsylvania, only to end up back there 5 years later the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.
Based on the debut show alone, it’s clear that this is going to be a foundational tour for both Briston Maroney and Peach Pit as the year goes on.
