PHOTOS/REVIEW: Nightly @ Brooklyn Bowl

Nov 19, 2023Nov 19, 2023 Erika Cutaia 0 Comments Ava Mosby, Brooklyn Bowl, caitlin mcgeehan, live music, Nightly, review, show review

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WRITTEN BY: Caitlin McGeehan

PHOTOS BY: Ava Mosby

Nightly’s Philadelphia date of their “wear your heart out” tour at Brooklyn Bowl felt like a homecoming show. Two of the three members of the alt-pop trio, Jonathan Capeci (vocals) and Joey Beretta (guitar), hail from the Philadelphia area and they brought their love for the city to the Sunday night concert. Capeci rocked a Flyers t-shirt and the Eagles fight song preceded the band’s entrance to the stage. The crowd welcomed Nightly with open arms, and their whole set felt like a hug back.

Fans were dressed in merch from all three artists on the bill (Nightly, Knox, and Young Rising Sons). Some outfit pieces like white Converse and The 1975 t-shirts also could have been references to Nightly’s track “dirty white chucks” or Knox’s “Not The 1975.”

Nightly’s stage design included a payphone and park bench which the band returned to throughout the show. Payphone calls and interludes served as transitions between songs. A voicemail-like recording with the band’s signature “night, love you” was paired with a sunset scene to create a bittersweet and nostalgic atmosphere. The Brooklyn Bowl disco ball also sparkled across the room during “radiohead,” which solidified it as my favorite in the city (apologies to my previous favorite, the PhilaMOCA disco ball).

Nightly’s music reassures you that you’re exactly where you need to be in life. Their song “older” especially embodies that feeling, and the performance of it at this show was extra special as Capeci’s parents were in the crowd. He introduced it as a song for people who feel like they don’t fit into a box, and said it was probably the most personal song he’s written. Fans connected to that message and were in the moment as they truly took in the song.

The band dedicated “the movies,” a fan favorite, to a crowd member whose wedding they will be playing soon. Phones came out to record the staple Nightly tracks “Black Coffee” and “Twenty Something.” Drummer Nick Sainato had a solo moment onstage for “whiskey, pt. 2,” which was met with a sing-along to the acoustic track.

You could feel the friendship amongst Nightly with each shoutout Capeci gave to his bandmates. The friendship extended to Young Rising Sons and Knox who both joined Nightly onstage. Young Rising Sons started a surprise celebratory toast since it was their last show of the tour, and they were met with hugs when they came back later for “hate my favorite band” (check out the video here!). For the collaboration “Miss When You Missed Me,” Knox brought his electric energy, which he’d given the crowd a taste of during his set.

Nightly shared their gratitude for the Philly crowd and their continuous and growing support over the years, mentioning how their last show here was at Milkboy, a much smaller (and sweatier) venue.

“like i do” was a highlight of the night. It was the last chance for the crowd to dance their hearts out and for the band to play their hearts out, which they definitely did (Sainato even stood on the drum kit before starting the song).

Knox and Young Rising Sons were the perfect openers to ignite the fun, authentic, and welcoming energy that lasted throughout the night.

WHIP got the chance to meet Young Rising Sons after the show and they were super sweet! They signed this for us and it’ll find its home in the WHIP studio!

Overall, Nightly’s live show pulls you in with scenic storytelling and keeps you hooked with a warm and reflective feeling that you can’t fully explain, but you can’t get enough of it.

Nightly wrapped up the “wear your heart out” tour on the 16th with a sold-out show in their home base Nashville. Keep up with them on Instagram and check out their initiative with Charity:Water for this tour as well.