Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.: 27 February 2014 – San Diego

Indie pop duo Dale Earnhardt Jr.Jr. are on a North American headlining tour in support of their 2013 LP The Speed of Things, as well as a new mixtape titled Produce Vol. 1. But the group has no relation to racing or the iconic NASCAR driver of their namesake. The moniker is simply one of those oddball ideas that somehow seems to fit with the band’s experimentally eclectic sound.

The Detroit-based duo of Josh Epstein and Daniel Zott have caused great confusion for NASCAR fans in this regard, but they say they just wanted a name that wouldn’t come with any preconceived notions.

“We didn’t really have any ambitions of making it a real band, we didn’t know anyone was going to hear it,” said Epstein in a recent interview with The Sporting News. “We didn’t know what kind of music we wanted to make and we both loved all kinds of music… We ended up naming it the most ridiculous name we could think. We kept it so we could go any direction we wanted to as opposed to having a name that has a sort of tone that sets the tone for what kind of genre of music we could make.”

The group’s West Coast run brought them to a sold-out show at San Diego’s Casbah on a Thursday night. It’s an intimate venue that frequently hosts rising buzz bands who are playing larger venues in Los Angeles and San Francisco. A mysterious flooding problem left the side of the room by the main bar in a waterlogged condition, making for tricky footing that caused most to long for a venue upgrade. But the band would rise to the occasion.

Some feared the group’s sound might come off a bit thin and synthetic if it was just a duo, but those fears were put to rest thanks to how the lineup was rounded out by drummer Mike Higgins and keyboardist/guitarist John Visger. Epstein and Zott dabbled in a variety of instruments from keys and guitars to bass and percussion, along with the harmony vocals that have become one of their trademarks.

The group’s bright pop sound and ‘80s synth-pop influences may not connect with some in the rock ‘n’ roll crowd. But there was an eclectic mix of sonics in play that revealed various alternative and indie rock influences as well. A giant white centerstage globe featured projections throughout the night to add some ambient eye candy into the mix too.

“I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” from the new mixtape was an early highlight, with a melodic psychedelia that recalled the Flaming Lips. The song’s trippy synth progression pulled the crowd into a groove that got the show going. “Morning Thought” featured ambient synths boosted by swirling tones and beats to bring the song further alive than the recorded version.

“Run” hit the crowd with an energetic blast of power pop that recalled some of James Mercer’s more uptempo work with the Shins and Broken Bells. But Epstein and Zott were creating their own sound here by crossing counterpoint synth melodies with harmony vocals for an infectious dance party vibe that made it easy to see where some of the buzz is coming from. “Mesopotamia” featured an up-tempo break beat, accented by ‘80s synth pop for a strange sound that wasn’t quite as compelling. But the band gelled again on “Warzone”, where a catchy bassline under the keyboard melodies and a crisp beat made for another crowd pleaser.

The set ended with the group’s hometown tribute “We Almost Lost Detroit”, an anthemic electro-pop tune with some extra guitar riffage to raise the energy. That energy surged higher still during the encore, with the band’s hit single “If You Didn’t See Me [Then You Weren’t on the Dancefloor]”. The oscillating synths, soaring vocals, and bouncy groove epitomize the group’s skill for layering sounds into a kaleidoscopic sonic tapestry.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.’s pop sound probably won’t connect with the southern NASCAR demographic that favors country music, but it is connecting with the west coast party people.