A Night of SALES: More Than Just A Good Deal
(Photo Courtesy of Goldenvoice)
As the long summer nights slowly come to an end, it feels important— almost urgent— to soak up the last of them. On August 12th at the Glass House in Pomona, hundreds of music-lovers stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of a small stage to do just that.
Opener Hannah Vu, sporting her Taylor Swift tour shirt, packed a powerful punch into her short set. Her catchy songs were cut with a lick of garage buzz, setting the tone for the night ahead. Brooklyn-based No Vacation was next, capturing the audience from the first notes of “Sad Valentine”. Fans already initiated into No Vacation’s world embraced every moment of their set, while those who were unexposed slowly but surely found their way into the groove. The popular “Lovefool” and “Mind Fields” garnered particular attention from the crowd. “You’re Not With Me” was a standout, a gorgeous ode to lost love that rolled along as easily as a drive down the coastline. No Vacation’s sound ranges from exquisite bedroom-pop to jangly surf rock, and their live set gave them a chance to showcase both. Each element blended together seamlessly— shimmering keys layered with crisp guitars and breezy vocals to create a sound that felt sunny and melancholic all at once. Onstage, they seemed self-assured and comfortable, without missing a beat. Such a strong set alludes to a bright future on the festival circuit.
SALES’ set started in darkness with hip-hop samples booming over the speakers. The mood shifted immediately as each member made their way onstage. The hip-hop halted abruptly as it was replaced by the instantly-recognizable first chords of “Big Sis”. Lauren Morgan was dressed in black from head-to-toe. She commanded the stage with an easy confidence, complementing Jordan Shih’s mellow presence. Though exuding a laid-back vibe, the two exhibited remarkable musicianship and precision. The electronic drum kit (referred to on their discography as their “uncredited third member”), is replaced by Malcom Martin when the duo tours. Martin did a noteworthy job of supporting each song, providing a backbone for which Morgan and Shih could sprinkle their silvery guitar riffs over. Each song was met with such enthusiasm that it felt like a setlist full of hits. It was clear that the majority of the audience was keyed in to SALES’ entire repertoire, singing along to old favorites like “Chinese New Year” and dancing to newer singles like “White Jeans”. Morgan and Shih took notice.
Towards the end of the night, Morgan took a moment to ask how many people were attending their first SALES show, to which about 75% of the venue raised their hands. A look of genuine surprise on her face, she laughed, “Where’d all you guys come from?” A fair question, considering that SALES has neither a record label nor a manager. It’s a choice though— they live up to their self description of “all the pop, no industry bullshit”. They’re a band whose following grew organically thanks to attention from online music blogs. For as many disadvantages the internet provides for musicians today, from streaming to piracy, it removes the barrier of entry and allows for bands like SALES to get noticed at a much faster rate. SALES ended their set with “Best Times”, their first LP’s closer and a perfectly natural way to wrap things up. During Morgan’s customary “shout-out to Jordan on the computer”, they gave a shout-out to Pomona as well.
Despite their rapidly-expanding popularity, SALES still feels like a well-kept secret. Their songs are ones that accompany you throughout your day-to-day activities, from the malaise of late summer to that hungover commute to work. The old-school drum beats prevent it from ever sounding really “new”, and yet, it never gets old. There was a palpable energy in the room, one that felt resoundingly uplifting. The Glass House’s smaller size played a key part in the overall atmosphere— such an intimate space had the ability to capture that energy and intensify it. SALES proved that it’s possible to sell out a venue without being sellouts.
The highly anticipated encore included a song reserved exclusively for live gigs that will never be recorded. A few audience members tried in vain to capture the jam on their phones, but it’s something that can only be fully experienced in person. As much as we would love to add the song to our ever-growing SALES collection, the choice to keep it on stage is actually quite special. It’s a final gift to the fans, an experience shared between us and SALES and no one else. No industry bullshit.
