Bahamas

Union Transfer October 18th 2023

October 18th, 2023

As a thick smoke slowly crept up into the high vaulted ceiling and overtook the room at Union Transfer, the indie Millennials of Philadelphia fell lightly against the rails, waiting for Bahamas to take the stage. With a calm scent of wood hanging in the air and a stage set up reminiscent of a friend's living room, Bahamas started their set off with the cool twangy guitar of  “No Expectations.”

The crowd swayed in a near pin-drop silence as we became mesmerized with a continuous captivation of haunting vocals and folky bass that would underlie the show. The set felt raw as songs like  “All the Time” were broken down into no bullshit riffs; capturing the feelings of the lyrics that plainly displayed the value of time, who you give it to, and how you take it from others.

In quiet moments, Lead singer (Afie Jurvanen) took time to recant with a smile about their last time in Philadelphia where they played Union Transfer alone in 2021. The set flowed on with lethargic drums and poignant guitar solos and into a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “Makings of you,” a first time play on their tour, hand picked by vocalist Felicity Williams for the nights setlist. 

Afie Jurvanen (singer/songwriter/guitar) also known by their stage name Bahamas, is a Canadian artist who first came into our peripheral back in 2012 with the sleepy lovesick album “Barchords.” Starting as a solo act, Bahamas has now expanded for their current tour of recent release “Bootcut,” (released September 15) to include Christine Bougie (guitar), Don Kerr (drums), Mike O’Brien (bass), and veteran Bahamas vocalist Felicity Williams who combine to make the perfect blend of bluesy guitars and breezy drums that play more like a conversation than a riff or bar. With vocals that walked steadily next to the instrumentals in rich harmonies that lingered in the room with a warm depth, the show left us walking out of the venue missing the feeling of melancholy and fullness that Bahamas were sure to provide.

Make sure to check out the rest of the Bahamas photos below.

-Before Tomorrow