Woodstock, Lady Gaga's meat dress and Will Smith's 2022 slapgate. What do these three things have in common? While generally considered some of the biggest pop culture moments in history and bound to remain relevant for generations to come, none can compare to the sheer perfection of the March 28 Sound of SUB concert featuring Del Water Gap, Samuel Holden Jaffe's indie pop solo project.
The show began with three talented student openers—Maura McMahon, Ben Warren Flynn and Libby Garnett—performing everything from contemporary classics to original pieces. McMahon's impassioned rendition of Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves' "I Remember Everything" was exceptional, ensuring good things to come for the rest of the show.
Following the openers, Del Water Gap—Sound of SUB's main act—delivered electricity and passion in their show, combining songs from their new album "I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet" with some of their most popular hits into a masterful set. The addition of their contemplative acoustic track "Chastain" into the middle of the act grounded an otherwise lively concert while songs like "All We Ever Do Is Talk" and "Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat" energized the crowd.
Not only did the music sound incredible, but the band committed itself to showmanship. Despite the small stage, Jaffe brought a level of dynamism to the concert that many bands tend to lack in such an environment. He moved effortlessly throughout the space, dancing energetically along to his songs, flashing a sly smile to every particularly excited female fan and even pulling guitarist Nick Cianci in for a faux kiss. In a memorable moment during the band's performance of "Perfume," Jaffe descended from the stage to the right side of the audience, climbed the barricade and sang on his knees in the middle of the pit as stunned fans quickly moved to form a circle around the singer and dance—well, "mosh" might be a better word—along with him.
The performance was magical, and—judging by the euphoric faces of those in attendance—many others seemed to agree. In fact, the Dow Jones' recent calamitous plunge of over 2,000 points is rumored not to have been the result of the new administration's economic policies but of Del Water Gap's Sound of SUB performance as music lovers everywhere are ditching their stocks for tickets to the band's international tour. Who needs a 401(k) anyways?
In addition to a lively performance, Jaffe seemed genuinely interested in Notre Dame. Domers were delighted as he inquired a bit about the University, remarking upon the golden dome's Wikipedia page and intrigued by the Fighting Irish mascot. He asked the crowd if "Fighting Irish" meant that the school is full of Irish people who fight other people or people who exclusively fight Irish people. Fans were puzzled but amused, and a few shouted, "Both!"
Ultimately, Del Water Gap seemed to bring the audience back to simpler times. In a music industry plagued with social media trends and Twitter feuds, it can sometimes feel we may have forgotten that music can exist just for fun. But, judging by the impeccable track record for the annual Sound of SUB concert (Noah Kahan, Tai Verdes and Del Water Gap), it seems the spirit of music lives on at Notre Dame.
