WASHINGTON D.C. — With his all-black outfit, moody lighting, and laid-back style, Jonathan Pierce of The Drums delivered a smooth and sultry performance at 9:30 Club on July 28, 2023.

Not only did Pierce draw fans young and old, but he made them absolutely dance. Young twenty-somethings were moshing up front, shoving each other as hard as seemingly possible. Upstairs, couples were dancing in an almost-swing style, contrasted by the alt-rock music.

Much of the stage was black, with deep tones of orange, yellow, green, and blue spotlighting Pierce. The darkness around the stage surrounded the backup musicians, creating an illusion that this concert was a collaboration between the founding member and his audience.

The microphone served as an extension of Pierce’s self, often twirling the cord and holding out to the crowd. Sometimes it felt like he was daring us to sing back, other times demanding. There was no shortage of audience participation.

One of the only times Pierce’s face was well-lit was when he briefly paused about halfway through to address the crowd directly. His main message was that touring can be tiresome, but that the energy from the crowd at 9:30 Club was invigorating.

The crowd kept their love and energy up all night long, all the way through the encore. The Drums’ 9:30 Club performance marked about the halfway mark of their summer tour. I have no doubt future crowds will be just as entertained.