REVIEW: sydney worthley album release
July 19th, 2024
The chemistry onstage was pivotal to surviving hiccups inevitable to playing brand new songs live, with the open shrugs and laughs adding to the intimacy of the night—we were all part of the very beginnings of this new era.
Unbeknownst to passersby on North Pearl Street in Albany, Sydney Worthley and crew transformed a slice of The Hollow into a glittering dance floor straight out of 1985.
Disco balls hung above the stage, pink and silver streamers lined the walls, and star-shaped balloons scattered the floor as her band took the stage, adorned in their own spin on ‘80s garb. Sydney was backed by a five-piece on Friday night: TJ Foster on guitar sporting the perfectly neon roller-blading Ken costume from Barbie, Julia Alsarraf on bass as the ever-golden Pony Boy, Derick Noetzel on keys and Chad Flewwelling on drums both rocking shades, and Jess Bowen popping on and off stage to add some lovely violin to select songs.
The night’s theme complemented the occasion: the release of Worthley’s Mint 400 Records debut, It Was Nice While It Lasted, which she explained was influenced by ‘80s production elements like poppy synths and big drums, mixed with tastes of modern female artists, a la Maggie Rogers. The set was relatively short, clocking in at just over an hour with fourteen songs—all twelve off the new record, plus two of her more popular tunes, ‘4:15’ and ‘Sinking Ship’ from her 2020 EP, Rose Colored Glasses. Though a brief show, Worthley and her band filled the time with renditions of the new tracks, some playful banter, and insightful comments about the origins of several songs.
The group’s strength was in their attention to dynamics and emotion, hitting their stride in moments when they allowed the songs to open up. Space materialized within ‘Both Ways’ for a gritty guitar-bass moment, setting up for Worthley to show off her rock vocals, yet the band seamlessly transitioned into the mellow ‘Thank You’ where all stood still to soak up her poignancy. The chemistry onstage was pivotal to surviving hiccups inevitable to playing brand new songs live, with the open shrugs and laughs adding to the intimacy of the night—we were all part of the very beginnings of this new era.
The record relies quite a bit on synth, with Worthley and Foster using looping pedals to bring in those elements, but the live versions took on their own shape. Songs like ‘Heart-Shaped Mess’ and the title track, ‘It Was Nice While It Lasted,’ shone bright when played with that live rock sound. Flewwelling’s huge drums filled the room, though never overpowering Worthley’s belting during her carefully crafted, Swift-like bridges. It’s a testament to both the musicians and the songs themselves that they transition so well between the styles and an exciting sign for the future as they continue to hone their sound. As the summer continues, it’ll be well worth your time to catch this crew, even if you’re not decked out in ‘80s scrunchies and neons.