Music
10 Mar 26

Live Report : Cavetown brings indie angst to Dublin

Cavetown (pictured).

Cavetown unveiled a notable evolution in his sound during his performance at the Academy last Saturday.

Having interviewed Cavetown the week before, I was intrigued to see how his new album, Running with Scissors, would translate to the stage. The record, released last January, signals a transition from his signature acoustic, lo-fi roots toward a sound that embraces emo and pop-punk influences.

"A lot has really changed,” Robin Skinner, the artist behind Cavetown, told me. “Especially my music. This whole album cycle, I’ve been trying to evolve every aspect of my creative process, from the writing to the live part of it. I’ve been conscious that I want my sound to be different and speak more to my abilities now as a producer and as a songwriter, and also just as a person. I’m growing and learning new things about myself, and I think that’s seeping through into the music.”

The anticipation in the Academy was palpable. As expected, the audience was a vibrant display of devotion, adorned in the iconic 2020 frog hats, holding up pride flags, and one fan extending a ukulele, hoping for an autograph. A cluster of excited teenagers in front of me, decked out in fingerless gloves, dyed hair, and colourful eyeliner, eagerly awaited his appearance.

The indie artist has been building this devoted fanbase ever since he earned widespread attention with his viral bedroom pop song 'Boys Will Be Bugs' in 2018. Cavetown's strong connection with his audience has only grown, fostering a community that prioritises vulnerability, mental health awareness, and queer identity.

While his stage presence was shy and unassuming, Cavetown's latest music is anything but meek. With blaring lights and echoing guitar riffs, the new material boasts more alternative music than his signature ukulele and acoustic style. While his older, gentler, and more introspective tracks still captivated the audience, his clear enthusiasm for performing the newer songs was a central feature of the show.

His hyperpop tracks like 'Rainbow Gal' and 'Reaper' we're intensified with the addition of the band's electric guitar and drums which were able to tie in the different genres of Cavetown's music into one cohesive performance.

This arrangement seemed to create a more comfortable environment for Skinner, as his confidence grew throughout the setlist, enabling him to rock out on stage.

The show's minimalist stage design gave Cavetown ample room to move, allowing him to energetically slam and riff on his guitar. He was highly animated throughout the gig, jumping across the stage and frequently high fiving and hugging his bandmates.

He concluded the preformance with one of his first viral hits 'Devil Town'. Dramatically playing riffs on his guitar with his legs in the air, Cavetown ended his show on energetic note.

The audience's screaming and crying intensified for his viral hits: 'This is Home', 'Juliet', and 'Boys Will Be Bugs'. In the quieter moments between songs, Cavetown sat at the edge of the stage, receiving letters and gifts from fans. He repeatedly checked in to ensure everyone felt safe and was enjoying the show, a showcase of the nurturing environment Cavetown concerts strive to create.

Both new and long-time fans passionately sang every lyric, with many crying and screaming. Just as they did in 2018, these tracks remain anthems for misunderstood and indie kids today.