Stagehands roll out bright green patches of turf at the Observatory North Park as bird and insect sounds play over the woodland tree backdrop, immersing the crowd in a nature-themed ambience. Two stuffed animals are perched atop an amp, overlooking a crowd humming with excitement.
Summer Salt’s concert on March 1, opened by Wabie and Boyscott, brought warm, beachy vibes to the venue that reminded audiences that winter is almost over.
Former SDSU student Ari Shier enjoyed the opening bands, saying she was pleasantly surprised. She has been a fan of the headlining group for some time now.
“I actually used to listen to Summer Salt in college,” Shier said. “… So it’s been 7 or 8 years now.”
On Summer Salt’s website, the Austin-founded band emphasizes their appreciation for time. They like to reminisce about the past while looking to the future, a notion that was echoed in this performance of old and new songs.
The band kicked things off with their hit song from 2018, “Seventeen,” featured on the album “Happy Camper.” Cheers and hands filled the space as the vocals and instruments happily rendered the melody.
Lead singer and guitarist Matthew Terry addressed the crowd with love and appreciation, saying the concert would be a feel-good show.
“We are well-oiled up here, we’ve been playing for over a month now,” Terry said on stage.
Their “sun-soaked charm,” mentioned on their website, was evident throughout the show. The accompanying members of the band, Eugene Chung, Winston Triolo and Anthony Barnett seconded this sentiment. The second song was from their new album, “Reside,” titled “When I Fall.” Fans came prepared, as they were singing along.
The group asked the crowd to then count to three and howl, solidifying the summer camp, wilderness-adjacent vibe they so artfully captured.
Green and purple lights cut through the fog as indie fans with long sleeves under their T-shirts swayed in unison, filling a venue framed by gold carvings around the room and chandeliers that glowed from the stage lights.
Terry performed an ode to San Diego, not in song form, but in a trivia game with a special prize. He revealed a signed Padres jersey, one that would be given to the fan who could answer two trivia questions correctly. Chula Vista native Shak Singleton, the only person who raised his hand, was up to the task.
When Singleton didn’t know an answer, nobody else seemed to know either, as some of the questions were about the band members themselves. However, the crowd was able to identify who the Padres played in one of the World Series, evident when “Yankees!” was screamed in unison. Singleton still won the jersey.
“I’m glad people helped me with the Padres thing,” Singleton said.
Singleton enjoyed the show and opportunity to spend time with his loved ones. He said he was there with his friends and that they all are very fond of the opening bands, as well as Summer Salt.
“I think more people should see them,” Singleton said. “It’s a really good vibe.”
Summer Salt closed out the show with “Candy Wrappers,” an older song that first appeared on their 2017 EP “So Polite.” They thanked the crowd and exited the stage, followed by the inevitable chant for one more song. To the audience’s delight, Summer Salt returned to the stage. The encore was their popular 2019 song, “Fireflower.”
The description of the band’s newest album, displayed on their website, encapsulates the feeling inside the auditorium as attendees were ushered to the exit:
“Even after its final notes fade, ‘Reside’ lingers, the sort of feelings that stick with you after the sun has set, the summer has slipped away and the golden haze of memory begins to clear. In those quiet, reflective moments, Summer Salt’s music hums: familiar and full of feeling.”
