Credit: Diana Kong-Wasielewski

Brooklyn by way of D.C. band Jukebox the Ghost playing Irving Plaza Saturday night to a packed house. For what was effectively a hometown show, the fans showed up in force. Openers Secret Someones and Little Daylight warmed up the crowded venue and around 10 the band finally took the stage.

They began with “Postcard” off of their newest album, Jukebox the Ghost, which came out earlier this year. It’s an upbeat follow-up to the more somber, but still poppy Safe Travel that the band released in 2012. The record was the first on their new label Cherrytree Records. Jukebox signed to the branch of Interscope Records in late January. The month turned out to be a busy one for the band. In addition to releasing a new records, the band also played Conan, did a cover swap with Twin Forks, recorded a Bangels cover with Secret Someones and did a Bands and Brews sessions with Baeble Music. The band’s guitarist Tommy Siegel also spoke to the Nerdist for their Car Tunes and Cartoons series and released a book of his “van doodles” after a successful Kickstarter campaign.

For their Irving Plaza appearance, the band played a mix of songs from each of their albums. This included tunes from their debut Let Live and Let Ghosts, like “Static to the Heart” and “Victoria”, and songs from their second album Everything Under the Sun, like “Schizophrenia” and “The Stars”. For long-time fans, a highlight of these older songs was the combination of “My Heart’s the Same” and “Lighting Myself on Fire” played back-to-back as they appear on Let Live.

Credit: Diana Kong-Wasielewski

Of the newer material, tracks like “When the Nights Get Long” and “Sound of a Broken Heart” translated excellently to a live setting. Jukebox always put on a good show and Jukebox’s latest Irving Plaza show appearance no exception. After a decade as a band, they have perfected the science of a live show. Jukebox really knows how to bring a cohesive and high energy set to the stage. They’ve also developed a successful formula of dropping back and allowing each member to be highlighted. Most concerts have that one slow song, where the light dims and the tempo drops. For Saturday night, Jukebox selected two songs from their new records for this section of the set. Siegel and drummer Jesse Kristin left the stage for “Undeniable You,” which vocalist Ben Thornewill sang solo from his keyboard. This was follow up by “Show Me Where It Hurts,” which Siegel sang standing instrument-less at his mic. It was the perfect presentation. Each song spotlighted each vocalist’s ranges. For “Hollywood”, another song off the new record, Kristin crawled out from behind his set to sing the intro, something never before heard on a Jukebox album.

Perhaps because they were so well presented, songs like “Hollywood” sounded as good live as they did on the new record. The same can be said for “Girl” and “Made For Ending”. As good as these songs were to hear live, the most dynamic and perhaps most memorable moment of the night was the band’s cover of “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, which the majority of the audience recognized instantly and enthusiastically sang along to. Members of Secret Someones and Little Daylight joined the band on stage for the second cover of the night, “Walk Like An Egyptian”. Jukebox’s version of the song was recorded with their soon-to-be labelmates after the two embarked on tour together. The Bangles tune was well-received by the audience, who danced around as members of the venue’s balcony released dozens and dozens of balloons onto the attendees below. It was a colorful and lively end to the night that seemed truly fitting of a Jukebox show.

Credit: Diana Kong-Wasielewski

There are a handful of dates left on the tour, including ME, MA and their other hometown of DC. Afterwards the band will be playing a series of sets at the famed SXSW, the a few festivals in the spring/summer.

-Zoe Marquedant