Irish indie-rock trio Two Door Cinema Club made their first return to El Paso, Texas in 7 years on September 25, bringing their self-titled tour to a sold out crowd at the Plaza Theatre with support from Petey. The trio is nearing the end of their US and Canadian tour which began in February of this year.
Fans lined up early in anticipation of the show, with the line spanning multiple blocks. Petey kicked off the night with a setlist of 9 songs. The singer-songwriter and comedian gained major traction on TikTok during the covid-19 pandemic with his quirky comedic sketches and indie-rock/electro-pop music, and has since released three full length albums. Petey opened his set with “I’ll Wait”, a track off of his most recent album, USA. Petey played a mix of tracks off of his two most recent albums, ending his set with “Don’t Tell the Boys”. The crowd could be heard yelling “Don’t Tell the Boys” along with Petey. Although his sound is more mellow than Two Door Cinema Club, he had the crowd engaged from the start. His style and energy set the tone for what was to come, heightening the anticipation for the main act.
Petey released a new EP, titled The Closest Thing to Being Over Is Going On, in June, and in addition to dates with Two Door Cinema Club, he will play a number of festivals before joining Hippo Campus on tour in February 2025.
Setlist: I'll Wait/ Lean Into Life/ California/ Apple TV Remote/ We Go on Walks/ Pitch a Fit!/ Did I Mention I'm Sorry/ The Freedom to Fuck Off/ Don’t Tell the Boys
Two Door Cinema Club took the stage and the excitement in the room surged. The band opened with “This Is the Life”, a track off of their 2010 debut album Tourist History which found major success internationally. While a large chunk of the 24-song set did consist of tracks from that album, they did incorporate tracks spanning their entire discography, including favorites like “I Can Talk”, “Are We Ready?”, “Lavender”, and “Wonderful Life”. Vibrant lighting displays added depth to the music bringing a continuous change of positive moods to the audience.
The band took that stage and made it their own, showing off the exceptional stage presence with each and every passing song, stopping to speak to the crowd every so often, the band created an atmosphere that would convince fans they were friends with Two Door Cinema Club personally. The lead singer Alex Trimble took a moment to speak with the audience, expressing thanks and love to the crowd for their continued support. Resonating with fans, a warm mood filled the room, especially for those who grew up listening to the band.
Further into the night, the crowd's energy continued to grow, showing no signs of faltering. During the final song, Trimble took a moment, holding out the microphone, to allow the crowd to have a special moment to shine during the song. Creating an experience for everyone in the room, it made everyone feel as if they were a part of the band themselves. You could feel the entire audience's shared love of the band's music, especially during this segment of the show. Seeing and hearing the crowd passionately sing every song Toor Door Cinema Club had to offer, truly showed the band's impact and influence on tonight's ticket holders.
Two Door Cinema Club’s performance at the Plaza Theatre was truly a night to remember. A journey through the band's music, full of high energy not just from the band, but from the audience too proves their music has become a cherished part of many fans' lives. The band's ability to mix visuals you could get lost in, an energetic stage presence, and the perfect melting pot of songs, truly shows the band's status as being high up in the indie rock scene. It was such an incredible experience, and personally, it left me wanting more, as they've become a band I definitely need to see again live next time they return. Two Door Cinema Club’s concert tonight is certainly something that will resonate with me and everyone in attendance for years to come.
Setlist: This Is the Life/ I Can Talk/ Sleep Alone/ Sure Enough/ Changing of the Seasons/ Next Year/ Do You Want It All?/ Something Good Can Work/ Costume Party/ Bad Decisions/ Everybody's Cool/ Come Back Home/ Handshake/ Wonderful Life/ Lavender/ Are We Ready? (Wreck)/ The World Is Watching/ Eat That Up, It’s Good For You/ Undercover Martyn/ Cigarettes in the Theatre/ Someday/ Messenger AD (intro)/ Sun/ What You Know
*PHOTOS BY HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER BRYAN CHAVEZ
*Review by Esteban Corral
