Featured Shows
CAAMP- Beachlife Festival
CAAMP at Beachlife Festival on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on the High Tide Stage
photos by Julia Varga
If you’ve been here before, you’ve seen CAAMP covered here quite a bit, and there’s good reason for that; I love those boys. Caamp always puts on a fun, energetic, foot stomping good time of a show., and this was my first time seeing them in a festival atmosphere. My only objection I possibly have, is that the set was not long enough! I know I know, it’s a festival, and I get it; each band is up there for a max hour set, plays the hits, maybe a new song or two, the crowd cheers and on to the next band. I can appreciate that, and playing the hits is great since most of the crowd barely knows who they are, and what a great way to introduce them. But for those die hards- like the one guy who traveled all the way from Alaska to see them play this festival- it’s never enough.
With an impressive 17 song set list, the CAAMP boys Taylor Meier, Evan Westfall, Matt Vinson, Joe Kavalec, and newest touring drummer Nick Falk brought some midwest love to the SoCal beaches and the crowd swooned and sang at the tops of their lungs in show of support. Taylor Meier’s soft satiny pink “Lavender Days” embroidered shirt glistening in the sun as he danced his way through the fastest hour. During the last song of the set, Taylor hops on drums and even with a broken mic stand, and help from drummer Nick, Taylor banged out an energetic “Going to the Country”, a traditional finale for the boys.
The band looked like they were having some fun both on stage and off; they love a good festival to check out some other bands-like friends Trampled By Turtles, day drink and float the crowd as fans themselves.
I love the boys, great humans all around, with music that hits my soul just right.
Set list (not in order):
“Come With Me Now”
”The Otter”
”Hey Joe”
”Common Man”
”Huckleberry Love”
”No Sleep”
”Peach Fuzz”
”On & On & On”
”Great Heights”
”By and By”
”Books”
”Penny Heads Up”
”Vagabond”
”Sleep on the Floor”/”All the Debts I Owe” (The Lumineers cover)
”Believe”
”Going to the Country”
photos by Julia Varga
CAAMP at Leader Bank Pavilion- Boston, MA
Caamp is currently finishing up their cross-country headlining tour for their new album, Lavender Days. Taylor Meier, Evan Westfall, Matt Vinson, Joe Kavalec and Henry Allen kicked off this tour on the west coast in July after completing the first half of the summer concert season providing support for The Lumineers. Still to come, the tour will notably make a sold-out two-night stop at Red Rocks next week and conclude with their first hometown arena show in Columbus, Ohio.
The crowd was already on their feet as the band came to the stage, and absolutely exploded as the band began to play “Come with Me Now;” the first song on their new album, and fittingly the perfect invite to the crowd to join them on their journey for the rest of the show.
The almost 20-song set included tracks spanning their entire discography and ended with supporting band Speaking Suns joining them for a wonderful tribute to Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac with a cover of “Dreams”.
The encore brought a solo moment with front man Taylor Meier offering some words of peace and a crowd-silencing rendition of “Sure Of”. Once everyone caught their collective breath, the rest of the band joined Meier on stage for a rocking finish with Meier taking over on drums for “Going to the Country”.
It was a beautiful night for good music, and Caamp delivered on a good time.
photos by Julia Varga
CAAMP at The Greek Theatre Los Angeles
Caamp concert at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles photos by Julia Varga
A new album titled Lavender Days inevitably brings all things lavender; Ohio based CAAMP did not disappoint when they walked on stage at the Greek. Looking Beatles-esque in their lavender suits, the folk/Americana group, led by lead singer/guitarist Taylor Meier, and made complete by bassist Matt Vinson, guitar/banjoist Evan Westfall, keyboardist Joe Kavalec and drummer Henry Allen, opened the show with “Come with me Now”. Also their album opener, the song’s quiet start that builds to a beautiful melodious crescendo is the perfect invitation to listen, live or otherwise. The band roared through crowd-anticipated hits from their previous albums such as “Hey Joe”, “By & BY” and “26” and were rewarded with the packed theater belting out every lyric right along with them.
The album released on June 24, 2022 will have its hits. A current favorite, titled “The Otter”, was played mid-set to a crowd that lovingly sang each and every word and refrain accomplishing the feel-good vibes only a solid summer sing-along can evoke.
The encore brought out a solo Taylor Meier to play the timeless acoustic “Strawberries”. The entirety of the Greek went absolutely silent, so as not to miss a single heartfelt inflection. Meier went on to describe the beauty of how a single voice memo of him playing “Sure Of” made it on to the album as the final song in its raw form; once again, the crowd listened with intent in complete quietude as it was played for only the second time live.
Meier brought the band back out for the final songs of the night and the set turned into a full on rock show with the now famous and brilliantly executed mix of “Believe” and Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” and finally coming to a rock star finale as Allen and Meier switched things up with Meier belting out “Going to the Country” from behind the drums.
Lavender Days tour continues up the coast with stops in Santa Barbara and Berkeley, CA. More tour info at www.caamptheband.com
