Sylvan Esso at Mission Ballroom 9.14.2021

The electronic pop duo Sylvan Esso, consisting of singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn, came through Denver on Tuesday, September 14, as part of their 2021 North American Shaking Out the Numb tour. Playing to a sold-out Mission Ballroom, a venue with a COVID-capacity of 3,950 vaccinated/negative tested persons, the energy was high, the dance moves were big, and the ambiance was evokative.

Slowly entering the stage as her voice filled the theater, Meath donned a blue, billowy, vinyl cape that enveloped her for the duration of the first song. Slowly taking in the audience, her smile shone as she walked the entire stage, from corner to corner, welcoming the audience to the evening. Producer Sanborn, remaining planted at his variety of soundboards, music machines, and computer screens, took a humbled presence and absorbed the energy from the introduction; knowing full-well the kind of show the band had in store that night.

For many, a night in a crowded concert has become something rare and cherished, and as bands are still postponing and canceling tour dates, Sylvan Esso hitting the stage at full-capacity brought a space full of gratitude and emotion. Even for me, someone who used to crawl out of concert venues and nightclubs five to six nights a week, hitting a couple shows a month now brings a flood of appreciation, elation, and mindfulness.

The prevalence of joy, both on and off stage, was palpable as music and life partners Meath and Sanborn charged through both their most notable tracks and some more obscure B-sides. From “Die Young” and “Parade,” to the tour title track “Numb,” the audience absorbed every ounce of electronic pop the pair was dishing, and the hour-plus set was interactive, immersive, and ever-so-sweetly long enough to keep the audience satiated until the next tour.

*words and photos by Veronica L. Holyfield