It can be nearly impossible for a three-piece band to put on a good show in a sparsely populated room, but Eternal Summers beat the odds with their short set for Carpark/Mexican Summer/Kanine Records’ CMJ showcase this past Wednesday. The headcount may have been low in Cameo’s back room that night, but the self-described “power trio” permeated and filled the space with their shoegaze-y pop.
The set list relied primarily on material from their third and most recent album, Correct Behavior, but the songs take on a new persona when played live—they feel much more substantial. Nicole Yun carried the show with her ardent falsetto and super distorted guitar, which, at some moments, became indistinguishable from one another. Noise levels were so high that the band began sounding much like My Bloody Valentine might if they were on an intense sugar high. “You Kill” and “Wonder” were standouts, with Yun’s vocals sounding particularly on point and drummer Daniel Cundiff and bassist Johnathan Woods rocking out with equal finesse. The upbeat and poppier “I Love You” closed the set with a frenzied energy and left audience members in high spirits.
The Virginia natives only played from 11pm to about 11:30pm but they were a highlight in a showcase that also included Bleeding Rainbow, Quilt, Mood Rings, Happy Jawbone and TEEN.
