Sylvan Esso kicks off fall tour at Palace Theatre

Sylvan Esso is no stranger to the Twin Cities and kicked off their fall tour with a multi-night run at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul. After a few technical issues were sorted out early on, the electro-pop duo from North Carolina played a fine show to a large all ages crowd. Compared to previous Sylvan Esso shows I have covered, this show was lower energy but felt more intimate and hit with a sonic boom. Backlit by a wall of lights, singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn focused heavily on their 2020 release Free Love while mixing in older hits like “Die Young“, “Kick Jump Twist”, and “Radio”.

The only thing that tops Amelia Meath’s dance moves is her beautiful and unique voice. Wearing a sparkled jumper and thick-soled shoes, the singer was captivating all night and expressed on several occasions how happy she was to be back on tour. Her husband, Nick Sanborn, seemed equally enthusiastic at the production tables, rocking long hair, a black mask, and free-flowing knickers. “Rooftop Dancing” from Free Love was played in the middle of the set and filled the room with good vibes. “Ferris Wheel” was another highlight and had the Palace Theatre grooving and dancing along.

If you get a chance to see Sylvan Esso live, take it. The duo has come a long way since their 2014 self-titled debut album and their song writing has matured. I am excited to see what they do next.