w/ Eric Slick
Frontwoman Jane Fitzsimmons rocks a shaggy red wolf cut that looks straight out of the British Glam Pop era. Guitarist Ian Jones with a stylish shag to match. The band originated in Boston, where they met and spent their first years playing before moving their base to Nashville where Twen released their first album, Awestruck, in 2019. They are now self-proclaimed “snowbirds,” living full-time in a self-built van while touring and creating music.
The duo officially released their latest EP, Infinite Sky, their love letter to Florida, this October.
- The title track, “Infinite Sky,” is a psychedelic Panglossian rock jam, featuring beachy guitar licks that take you straight to a sunny cliff overlooking an infinite sea, with a feeling you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
- Then “Stunts” gets you stomping your feet to an offbeat, glazy melody with soft vocals to match. Once you’re settled in, drum beats pick up, and the song escapes into a hard, riffy, ever-expanding groove until you’re stopped abruptly in the middle of your jamming.
- “Lucky Onze” features cool, upbeat vocals with an ominous undertone. Underwater, echoey texture envelops the song and Fitzsimmons interjects sarcastic Sprechstimme as we all go to hell.
- The final track, “Seastar,” continues the beachy feeling that’s layered through the EP. Along with the actual sounds of waves and seagulls, there’s more layered, echoey vocals and noodly guitar riffs that culminate into a deep, unique sound.
Their live show had a setup to match: a background tapestry of dark palm tree silhouettes over a pink sunset. As a land-locked Missourian, I’ve been a beach hater since I first set foot on one, preferring the cleaner, shallower waters of Missouri’s southeastern streams. But this EP makes me romanticize all the heat and sand and open water that comes with the sea. This has to be one of my favorite music releases of the year, so I was eager to see them live.
Up first was multi-instrumentalist Eric Slick. I had never heard of him prior to the show, but unbeknownst to me, it turns out he’s infiltrated every corner of my music taste, having performed or recorded with musicians such as Nels Cline (of Wilco), Taylor Swift, and Ween. Most notably, he is the drummer in the band Dr. Dog. His catchy, synthy melodies and keyboard sounds amalgamated into a unique and nostalgic retro video game sound that swayed everyone on the floor. He released his latest album, New Age Rage, this past April.
After Eric Slick, Twen and their rotating rock band took to the stage. This group, hailing from all over the United States, featured Fiona Palensky on drums (also the drummer for Eric Slick!), Camden Pink on bass, and Asher Horton on guitar.
While watching them set up the stage, it puzzled me that “Christmas Time is Here” from the 1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas was playing in the background. As if to answer our thoughts, Fitzsimmons exclaimed that it was, in fact, Christmas! In the middle of November! So, the music carried on in the background while the band prepared for their opening song. The setlist began with “Waste” from their 2019 album, Awestruck. The crowd geared into dance and sport as Fitzsimmons kicked beach volleyballs into us one by one. (Volleyballs at concerts must be among my top 10 things ever!). Fitzsimmons sauntered and dipped around the stage while Jones delivered beautiful, punchy melodies.
The energy remained high until we took an unexpected detour after “Brooklyn Bridge”—it was our turn to sing now. Fitzsimmons rehearsed the words before counting us off to sing “Christmas Time is Here” ourselves. If you weren’t already a fan of Twen, you would’ve just then become one. There’s nothing like an elementary school-esque “Christmas” performance when you least expect it.
After another round of songs, the band departed the stage, but it wasn’t over yet. Following an itching five-minute wait, the band rushed back to the stage to finish the set with “Seastar.” Everyone quieted to hear the final goodbye from Fitzsimmons, and as she started speaking, Jones abruptly kicked off the opening riff of “Damsel,” and the rest of the band kicked into gear. The crowd went berserk and a small mosh pit started at the right front of the stage. An encore to the encore to end the night!
Twen and Eric Slick personally sold their merchandise after the show. I don’t think I’ve ever met a cooler group. They were happy to sign my shirt and talk to anyone who approached.
I’ll be eagerly awaiting Twen’s return to St. Louis; I have a feeling this group will be selling out The Pageant in the near future. | Margo Lemley
Their merch, music videos, and music can be found here: https://www.twenband.com/
