The pikachu backpack threw a lot of people off, including a couple who stood left of The Echo’s stage. Earlier, Nylo had lulled the audience with ease despite being a last-minute add. She lulled me, too. An indigo summer bathed the alt-R&B singer as bodies swayed to her glass notes. So when Meishi Smile set up, half of the crowd were none the wiser. Hidden among chillwave hopefuls, Zoom Lens’ cult following showed their true colors as Nadia Ulerich sat, fingers curled like a full lotus and a masked Lindsay Anne drew out the gong. Obscured by a black lace veil, Garrett began and people were grounded, some wounded by its immediacy — noise and synth, autotune and scream. But in the din of cyberpunk closer "…Belong", they understood. Briefly.
Survivors and the sated scanned their surroundings as Jeremy Malvin took the stage. And together, they entered the chrome forest. Need more be said? – Ryan Mo, photo credit: Joey Tobin