LIVE REVIEW: Two Door Cinema Club at Roadrunner in Boston, MA on February 27th, 2024

Artists: Joywave and Two Door Cinema Club

Location: Roadrunner in Boston, MA

Two Door Cinema Club, the Northern Irish indie pop-rock sensation, brought their infectious energy to the stage at Roadrunner in Boston, captivating the audience with their signature sound on a memorable night of music and celebration.

Since the early 2010s, Two Door Cinema Club has been redefining indie pop-rock, attracting a global following drawn to their unique style. Their debut album, Tourist History, released on February 17, 2010, remains a cornerstone of their success, boasting over 1.7 billion streams on Spotify. Comprising of Alex Trimble, Sam Halliday, and Kevin Baird, the band’s name itself reflects a comical incident when Halliday mispronounced their local cinema called The Tudor Cinema.

Opener: Joywave

Kicking off the evening was Joywave known for their hits such as “Dangerous”. They have a similar sound to TDCC so they were a great mode of excitement for the headliner. Their entire set was exciting and nothing less than entertaining. Even near the end, they counted down from five to announce they would be returning to Boston later this year for their headline tour after releasing a new record in the coming months. So, anyone in the New England area needs to stay tuned for when they announce their 2024 tour to secure some tickets. You do not need to be a fan to enjoy their music, although I suggest you become a fan because they truly have exceptional music.

Headliner: Two Door Cinema Club

As anticipation mounted during the forty-five-minute intermission, the crowd was eagerly awaiting for TDCC’s arrival. When they finally took the stage, the venue erupted with excitement. The stage was set with a boosted section in the back where the touring drummer and keyboardist were placed. The stage lights flickered until the three members walked onto the stage and took their spots at their equally spread-out allocated spots at the front of their set. The band launched into an electrifying set, starting with crowd favorites like “Sure Enough” and “I Can Talk.” The first two songs made the venue feel like a club because of the pulsating lights and energy that filled the room up.

Their music is exhilarating and makes you want to dance. Everyone in Roadrunner was dancing along, whether or not they knew the lyrics. Even at the back of the house where it tends to be the least lively, was the most energetic.

Earlier in the evening Joywave informed everyone that the touring drummer for TDCC was having his birthday that night. So, after the fourth song when the band took a break to chat with the audience, a rendition of happy birthday broke out. The audience sang in unison until he stood up from his seat and threw his hands up in the air while holding his drumsticks and smiled very brightly.

Frontman Alex Trimble’s stage presence was magnetic, his voice soaring over the crowd while keeping consistent energy. While singing their single “Changing of the Seasons”, he dramatically reached out towards the audience emphasizing the meaning of the song. At the end of “Next Year” from the 2012 album Beacon, all of the stage lights shut off except three spotlights which remained on the band members. All of their instruments paused and the three sang perfectly in harmony as if they were a choir capturing the attention of everyone.

Each song seamlessly transitioned into the next. The second last song was their most famous song “What You Know”, a song far from being overrated. They ended the show with a cover of “You Make My Dreams” originally written by Daryl Hall and John Oates.

Two Door Cinema Club’s performance at Roadrunner truly showcases why they stand out in the indie rock scene. Their distinctive sound and infectious energy captivated the attention of everyone who attended! Their version of indie rock is something the music industry needs much more of. They just announced an extension to their tour that has an additional twenty-four North American dates. They will be visiting Boston once again on July 28th at Leader Bank Pavilion instead.