Dan Croll played to an energetic and dynamic crowd at Brooklyn Bazaar (150 Greenpoint Ave) on Thursday night to promote the release of his second album, Emerging Adulthood. The night opened with The Dig, a New York indie rock band whose sound is a melodic synth-pop that hits hard in all the right places. With two lead singers, the band kept the crowd engaged and intrigued, swapping instruments and sounds from one song to the next. Tired of Love, the name of their tour and also a track on their new album, pulls at your heart in an undeniably relatable way. It’s haunting and captivating and a song that you won’t tire of soon. Their hit I Already Forgot Everything You Said is catchy and memorable, telling the story of a turbulent love between two people that feels familiar yet fresh.
I caught a glimpse of Dan while The Dig was on stage, casually fitting in with the Brooklyn scene wearing his signature black-rimmed glasses. He seemed to be surveying the crowd, the sound, and the feeling in the room as he bobbed his head to the music. And by the time he took the stage, the room—seemingly and suddenly filled with pockets of devout followers and curious listeners alike—gave him an eager reception. Dan Croll’s sound is dynamic, upbeat, energetic, and endearing, with intros that cue you to pay attention and lyrics that keep you there. His new album combines a nostalgic, British rock vibe with the electronic indie pop that hits hard and lasts long and filled the room at Brooklyn Bazaar on Thursday. And, his sound is ambitious, polished to near perfection and bringing strong movement into each song, with words that dance upon light harmonies. His song Bad Boy combines his signature guitar hooks and electronic beats, and had everyone moving and singing along. His popular song From Nowhere showcased his range of talent and also the acoustics of the space, with heavy percussion and melodic dimensions that had the crowd dancing and singing along. Dan Croll is an artist to keep on your radar and in your ears, for a while.
If you missed Thursday’s show, listen to Bloodshot Tokyo by The Dig on Spotify and Dan Croll’s new album Emerging Adulthood. Brooklyn Bazaar has a stacked roster of artists to discover this fall; check out their schedule here and head to this wonderful gem of a venue right in the heart of Greenpoint.
