Concert Review: when young sing to “The Others” At Mercury Lounge

Playing at Mercury Lounge, the Irish trio of whenyoung made a perfect marriage of Pop and Rock, and, in some ways, taught me what the genre is about: presentation. It is pop’s sweeter notes bashed out as if a synth could drop like a ton. With their excitement to be in the U.S., they presented their EP, Given Up, as if they were giving in to sound.

When I wrote my album review about Given UP, I spoke about how it’s a record, of sorts, on submission, and the realization that fighting life and living life are two contrary motivations. It is like keeping one foot in Hell while wishing you had the will to put both in Heaven. Thus, tracks such as, “Future,” “Never Let Go,” and “In My Dreams” sung to wanting better while not really knowing how or if you could do so. Whether it be loving another or loving what you have, being young involves discovering how to settle for good while motivate your best. Still, there are social issues to confront.

As a group, whenyoung breezes through their set; laser- focused on serving a platter of sounds that slivers rhythms. They constantly center towards each other as if each one has a music magnet latched on that makes them connect. You watch their frenetic energy and smiles like they gave you permission to be in the moment. This is especially true with Aoife Power’s voice, which could, literally, be sold at bakery shops with how saccharinely it rises. Such a gift amplifies her ability to sing to life’s frustrations, particularly, when it comes to tracks like “The Others;” where Aoife spoke about how social inequality led to the Grenfell Tower Fire. This moment stood out as one of compassion, and infused into their verses an ultimate meaning: be kind. For More Information On whenyoung Click Here.