Hot on the heels of our exclusive release of their new song “Halloween Superstore,” local synthpop band Fringe Class celebrated the release of their new EP, Fringe Class Begins, with a headlining show at Portland’s S1 on March 14.
DoublePlusGood at S1—click to see a whole gallery of photos by Sydnie KobzaLocated in the basement of a Rite Aid in Portland’s Hollywood district, S1 is a venue and art space that's a little different but one that provided an underground vibe perfectly suited for an event such as this. When the doors opened, the crowd wasn’t too large, and for the first hour, a few stood around bouncing to the tracks spun by the DJ before the celebration really kicked off. The biggest eye-catcher in the room was the stage setup, which was backed by a screen displaying different video clips. For the upcoming live performances, it made itself the perfect setting.
DoublePlusGood was the first band up. Having experience working and sharing the stage with acts such as Typhoon, Wild Ones and Ariel Pink, this indie pop band had no trouble filling the small space of S1 with echoing dance vibes. Though their stage presence was mellow, the sound that came out of them was filled with energy, giving the slowly growing crowd a great introduction to the party’s coming events.
Forrest of Gold Casio at S1—click to see a whole gallery of photos by Sydnie KobzaGold Casio took the second slot and overloaded the space with a massive energy and a shimmering display of showmanship. The sound of Gold Casio is electronic fun in its purest form. With guitars and synths layered with electronic beats, they shot life into the room both audibly and visually. (Extra special shout out to the band’s main keyboardist and guitarist, Forrest, for being one of the most fun characters to watch throughout the evening.)
The highlight of this set was definitely the short collab between Gold Casio and the lead songstress of Fringe Class, Maddy Gold. Together, they threw S1 back to the early 2000s with a cover of Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.”
By the time Fringe Class took the S1 stage, the crowd had grown exponentially. If DoublePlusGood and Gold Casio provided any indication of the crowd’s potential energy, Fringe Class broke the scale. Throughout their entire set of dance-infused synthpop, the S1 crowd was jumping as one massive entity. Just as Gold Casio had done before them, each member brought their own element to the stage, completing this explosion of energetic showmanship. Through their jumping, dancing and spinning, Fringe Class celebrated an exceptional record release with a short and sweet set within the walls of S1.
Fringe Class at S1—click to see a whole gallery of photos by Sydnie Kobza
