By Molly O’Neill
I cannot recommend anything more than going to a concert in your hometown when you’re home from break over the holidays. Memphis is a great city for music but the indie rock crowd there is smaller than one would hope. Which is why I started off this break with a TV Girl concert at the Fremont Theatre in San Luis Obispo. The band originated in San Diego in 2010 and is made up of three core members; Brad Petering, Jason Wyman, and Wyatt Harmon. Despite being a fan of TV girl for almost 4 years I was surprised that there was no actual “TV Girl” involved. Like many music lovers, I’m one of those people who ties songs to memories which is why I can tell you the first time I heard “TV Girl” was writing a philosophy paper in the basement of Robertson. I heard “Lovers Rock” from their most popular album French Exit and immediately loved the playful beat, the relatable yet quirky lyrics, and the softness of Petering’s voice.
As French Exit came out in 2014, I had little hope of seeing this album performed in its entirety until recently. The band is on tour with the 6 1/2-year anniversary of the album’s release which had been postponed due to Covid- 19. I caught them in the last leg of their tour in the US on the coast of California before they head to the UK. The line to get into the venue was a long one, we missed the opening act. No one was complaining though— except about the cold— because it was the fault of the bouncer checking vaccine cards and ID’s. This is not something you often have to deal with in Memphis, but in California you can’t walk two feet without someone asking to see your vaccine card. The crowd in the line was well behaved and a surprisingly wide variety of people. Couples in their 60s, moms and daughters, girlfriend and boyfriends, and friends all about to share this experience after giving up so much of our normalcy during these unprecedented times. Masks inside the venue were optional, but most stayed on. Despite being 22 years of age, the bouncer was wary of my Alabama ID after seeing my twins California one, so I was marked as underage. A laughable moment and certainly not a damper on my evening. When we entered the theatre a number of people were gathered at the pit, but a good amount stayed sitting. TV Girl is the kind of band that requires creativity when dancing, in other words hypnagogic pop. We spoke to some acquaintances who shared this acquired taste and waited excitedly for the band to start.
Beginning with “Pantyhose” it was clear they had no intentions of varying from the album. The vibes were hazy and lazy and sweet, someone behind me sang every word. The girl next to me kept bumping into me in tandem with the beat. Then the crowd began to glow as their second most popular song “Birds Don’t Sing” started to play. Petering and the rest of the band didn’t have a crazy dance number or a light show, it wasn’t necessary. This is the music that you dance to in your bedroom or while you’re washing the dishes. It makes you think of old conversations and relationships you’ve almost erased from memory.
Of course, there were songs I didn’t know very well, but that gave me an excuse to head to the washroom, my second favorite place during concerts. The community you find in a women’s restroom at a show is unparalleled. Beautiful girls with torn tights and thick eyeliner laughing and lifting each other up enjoying the space and the soft vibration of the music as it seeps under the door.
The rest of the concert went on swimmingly, people twirling and bopping as Petering and his crew messed about on stage. It was like watching teenagers play in their parents’ garage in a nostalgic and light-hearted way. There were a few cringe moments where Petering shouted out his fans from tiktok, “Lovers Rock” has been going viral on the app and he assumed that the younger crowd was there because of it. The band ended with a couple songs from their latest album Death of a Party Girl, staying true to their lo-fi beats and nonsensical lyrics. The crowd was content, and we exited the warmth of the theatre into the cold December night, still high on the shared experience of a beloved band. Whether studying, dancing, or taking a night-time drive TV Girl has had a spot in every playlist since I first discovered them. In his final moments on stage Petering shared his happiness that he could still relate to the sad teenagers feeling a little lost and confused. Which— to be honest— we all are.