Del Water Gap

Union Transfer October 20, 2023

October 20th, 2023

A bed, a tv, some luggage, and a neon horse dotted with a juvenile smiley face decorated the stage. Combining into the makings of a studio apartment, Union Transfer transformed from a mere musical platform into an immersive intimate experience in anticipation of Del Water Gap’s sold-out performance.

New song “NFU” from junior album I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet, which was playfully described by lead singer S. Holden Jaffe as “an album with a lot of songs I wrote while having a mental breakdown,” began the set with perfect beats to the bands dancing and twirls.  

As popular in Del Water Gap’s discography, songs about unrequited love including “Let’s Pretend” put a sweet sting into the hearts of the crowd as familiar twinkling indie drum lines emanated from the stage. Swiftly following, the crowd took a moment to erupt into cheer after Jaffe made sure to “shoutout those having mental health problems” leading into “Hightops.”

Jaffe took the few breaths taken in between songs to shed their appreciation on Philadelphia; lovingly calling it “a surrogate nest for my art.” Tales of first shows in Philadelphia frat houses (which were “not the vibes'') rolled into song “To Philly,” a heartbreaking tune written to an ex-lover from Philly in a plea to have her move to NYC.

The set wrapped up with the floorboards of Union Transfer’s bowing up and down as the crowd entered a jumping frenzy to song “Ode to Conversation Stuck in Your Throat.” During this powerful closing, if you looked in any direction you could simultaneously find an audience member: smiling, laughing, screaming, or crying to the upbeat guitar and drums that begged for inner thoughts on a lover to be shouted at the top of your lungs.

Del Water Gap is a solo project from Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter S. Holden Jaffe whose forlorn song subjects create the perfect blend of upbeat indie rock with “sad girl” music undertones to satiate any mood. Whether you want to dance, sing, disassociate, or cry; Del Water Gap promises to deliver a song that fits your needs. With a long list of sold-out shows on their current tour, we can only recommend you keep your eyes on them as they will surely be one of the next big voices in alternative music.

SETLIST

INTRO

NFU

LOSING YOU

BETTER THAN I KNOW MYSELF

DOLL HOUSE

LAID DOWN MY ARMS

CHASTAIN

LETS PRETEND

GEMINI

QUILT OF STEAM

HIGH TOPS

TO PHILLY

SORRY I AM

GLITTER+HONEY

BEACH HOUSE

PERFUME

ALL WE EVER DO IS TALK

COPING ON UNEMPLOYMENT

WE WILL NEVER BE LIKE ANYBODY ELSE

ODE TO CONVERSATION STUCK IN YOUR THROAT

Make sure to check out the rest of Del Water Gap’s photos below.

-Before Tomorrow