Say Hovvdy at the Aragon Ballroom

Indie pop band Hovvdy opened for Beabadoobee’s ‘This is How Tomorrow Moves’ tour with a bang at the Aragon Ballroom.

Indie pop band Hovvdy joined rising indie star Beabadoobee’s latest tour for a sold-out Aragon Ballroom show Sept. 17. Co-frontmen and guitarists Charlie Martin and Will Taylor celebrated their second-ever Chicago show.

“Howdy Chicago,” Taylor said as they kicked off their eight-song set with the second-to-last song on their 2021 album “Junior Day League.” The song presented a calm, cool and collected first impression. With a simple drum beat, intricate guitar lines and a synth board embellishment, it reminisced on memories of past love.

“Feel your light fade into me,” Taylor sang as stage lights enveloped the duo.

The accompanying set design was relatively simple with a basic white sheet as a background, obstructing the view of the Beabadoobee’s garden-esque set that would later be unveiled. This allowed the band to focus intently on the lighting, with colors paired with the emotional draws of each song — turquoise for sadder, slower songs and red for upbeat and energetic performances.

As the band rolled into their second song, “Forever,” the fluid lighting enhanced the agape love song and the venue’s galactic ceiling mural. They created a dazzling atmosphere that paired like an adventure in space with the music itself.

The addition of classic country and contemporary pop guitar chords introduced their Southern twang. Their performance brought a familial energy as they playfully interacted with each other on stage. 

Clad in simple clothing, they appeared at ease. Taylor wore a button-down shirt tucked neatly into slacks, while Martin wore simple jeans and a shirt— they radiated energy that transcended the performer-audience divide.

The relative simplicity of clothing and staging was apt for songs such as “Blindsided,” which added a grounded rock feel to their otherwise pop image. Their set embodied a common theme of casual love — ending too soon. Subtle inserts of sharp guitar strings toward the end of the song brought the Texas feel and lovesick longing.

Crouched and swaying back-and-forth, Martin and Taylor infused their performance with warm and soulful phrases. The duo also interacted with the audience, frequently encouraging them to sing along to songs even if they didn’t know the words. 

“Make Ya Proud” paid homage to family in a slowed-down fashion, with the addition of keyboard and detailed drum embellishments. 

“How many of you did not know who we were before this?” Taylor asked the crowd, with the overwhelming majority raising their hands in confirmation. 

Then Hovvdy broke into their final song, “True Love.”

The rendition of a love song was simultaneously optimistic and slow, inspiring the audience to turn on their phone flashlights and wave them. This classic response to an emotional melody by concert-goers sent the Texans off with a smile.

The ballroom’s galaxy was no longer a mural on the ceiling, but a living painting amidst the crowd.