Between Friends and Nancy Dunkle surprise attendees of WERW’s Fall Launch Party
On November 16th, WERW hosted its Fall Launch Party with opening act Nancy Dunkle and headliner Between Friends in Schine Underground.
Words by Nehilah Grand-Pierre / Graphic by Lily Greco
Who doesn’t love surprises? This year at WERW Radio’s Fall Launch party headliner, Between Friends, and opening act Nancy Dunkle both treated the audience to exclusive unreleased songs and first-time live performances. Overall, this Launch Party was definitely a surprise party.
Nancy Dunkle opened her set with an unreleased song. Though Dunkle said she wrote it a long time ago, she just can’t seem to let go of it. This soft rock piece doesn’t have a name, but it served as the perfect preview into what Dunkle would offer for the evening as she added a little grunge kick to Beach House’s “Space Song” and Japanese House’s “Sunshine Baby.”
“I’ve really wanted to try adding a synth. This was the perfect opportunity and I got to do a couple songs I was a little intimidated by covering. So, it was a good way to push myself out of my comfort zone,” said Dunkle.
After this cover came her newest song, “Symptom,” providing a lively, energetic twist on her indie-folk single. Before passing the baton to the headliner, Dunkle said goodbye with “Poster Child,” where the vocal harmonies truly shined with the support of Ceece Cosenza and Grace Ferguson of Luna and the Carpets.
Between Friends also offered a harmonious performance throughout their set. Brother and sister duo Brandon and Savannah Hudson have been making music together since they were in grade school. Their creative chemistry and vocal blending definitely prove it.
They opened their set with “Drive over me” as the Schine Underground lit up with red and white strobe lights from the stage. With the Underground being an intimate venue, Brandon encouraged everyone to “jump around like you’re at the club.” The audience abided, and were in the air for the following tracks like “What’s up” and “Haircut” (which featured many epic hair flips from Savannah).
For one of the duo’s crowd favorites, “Bruise,” Savannah led a call and response during the “I want you” section of the hit song’s bridge. They concluded the act with their biggest hit “Affection.”
Before going out with a bang, like Dunkle, Between Friends came to the party bearing gifts. They treated everyone to the first live performance of “Pleasure delayer” and also surprised fans with an unreleased, untitled demo that featured a hyperpop-funk fusion sound with heavy bass and reverberating synths.
Maybe it’s the balloons, the unreleased songs, and the guest appearance from Otto the Orange talking, but “party” is the perfect word to describe WERW’s fall concert this semester.