The Academic Is "Sitting Pretty" In Our Minds With Their Live Presence!

For their last night of their Sitting Pretty Tour, The Academic had a party with fans in the Bowery Ballroom in New York.

by Helena Tankosic

Opening the show was the New York-based band Summer Drive. The group has a blend of alternative rock and indie pop music with 80's style synths, giving the band a very nostalgic sound. Lead vocalist Jake Stam very transparently explained he was quite nervous for this performance during the first song due to still recovering vocally, but he easily loosened up and got more comfortable as the act went on. Stam even jumped off-stage and encouraged fans to jump/dance with him while he sang. Overall, their performance was very high-energy and was thoroughly entertaining. I also got a chance to talk with a few members of the band after the show and, my goodness, they are as kind as they are talented. Extremely humble and down-to-earth people.

by Helena Tankosic

Then, after a brief intermission, the stage was set for the Irish rockers and their hotly-anticipated performance. The band then proceeded to electrify the packed room with their performance, fans jumping to the thunderous beat, setting the tone for a night of dance anthems, rock magic, and Irish love. When lead vocalist Craig Fitzgerald asked if there were any Irish fans in the room, they immediately erupted into cheers and transitioned into overpowering “Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé”’s, which if you don’t already know, is a very popular chant used at sports games, specifically Irish football games. This earned a few smiles from the band members, who then continued their performance. The band finished off with an encore performance of “Bear Claws,” leaving fans buzzing with adrenaline, as it is one of their more popular songs. There was rapturous applause as the band walked off-stage. The show left a multitude of fans with warm smiles, closing out a truly memorable night. The band now goes on to open for former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson for his Faith in the Future Tour. We wish them all the best and can’t wait to see them soon!

All photos are by Helena Tankosic