Distracted

BY: ALLIE RUSSELL

Dayglow’s Sloane Struble brought his signature mix of charm and feel-good indie pop to Chicago’s House of Blues on October 24^th in a show packed with high spirits and polished production. Opening was Sun Room, a Southern California band whose vibrant indie rock set the perfect tone for the night. Sun Room delivered on their mission to bring SoCal to Chicago, adding a “cool guy” energy that reflected in their performance.  “Sol Del Sur” was a standout track that blended classic laid-back surf rock vibes with their vibrant live energy. Their set ended with a powerful finish on the track “Cadillac”, winning over the crowd and serving as a great lead-in for the night’s headliner. As they wrap up their time as openers on this tour and head out on a November headlining run, Sun Room is set to make a splash with a fresh wave of fans. 

When Dayglow took the stage, the crowd was immediately pulled in by the clean, eye-catching setup: a huge star as the centerpiece, “Dayglow” spelt out across the stage, and a dramatic red wash of lighting to kick things off. They opened with “Junior Varsity” and “Broken Bones”, sticking with crisp white lighting that gave an old-school, almost theatrical feel. The color lights finally burst out for “Hot Rod”, an early crowd favorite that got everyone singing along. Throughout the night the lighting design was outstanding, with creative touches that added a unique texture to the performance. 

Sloan’s goofy, down-to-earth vibe kept everyone engaged. Even though he didn’t talk much at first, his energy and huge smile make it feel like he was having a conversation with the crowd through each song. Fans loved moments like his bouncy dance moves during “Every Little Thing” and his quick clarification when a baby onesie was tossed onstage – “I’m not having a baby, just so you know!” With his humor and little interactive moments, like playing rock paper scissors with a fan for a guitar pick, Sloan kept things light and fun, building a natural connection with the audience.  

The band’s performance was tight, and each member brought their own energy and skill, with bassist Hunter even playing through and injury with a cast on his wrist. Highlights included the crowd-favorite “Medicine”, the guitar-driven “What People Really Do”, and “Weatherman”, which Sloan introduced with a laugh as “a dad rock song”. When he mentioned his recent 25^th birthday and joked about his “fully matured prefrontal cortex” before performing “Fuzzybrain”, it was clear that everyone felt at home on the stage.  

Sloan mentioned during the performance that Chicago has long been a special place to him, calling it his north star and saying, “This is a place where I’m supposed to play live music”. When he came back for the encore in a t-shirt reading “Chicaglow”, the crowd exploded. The encore consisted of tracks “Close to You”, “False Direction”, and “Listerine”, followed by fan favorite “Run the World!!!” under rainbow lights and to the sound of everyone singing along, making for the perfect end to the night. 

It really is the little things and attention to detail that makes a Dayglow show so special. This House of Blues show was one to remember, with its inviting energy, interactive charm, and a production that elevated each moment. Whether fans had been following him from the beginning or were discovering him for the first time, it was clear that Dayglow’s live show is an experience worth catching.