Photos by Eric Weiner
During the sweltering heat waves of summer, it’s not always easy for us New Yorkers to ditch the sticky city and spend a day at the beach. Instead, we have Summerstage shows in Central Park for the little escape that Rumsey Playfield has to offer. On Saturday evening, Camera Obscura and She & Him took the stage and provided the beachy vibes that we were all desperately craving in the 90 degree weather. Though the former was technically the opening band, it felt more like a shared headline thanks to the vast sea of Camera Obscura fans. Five albums and over ten years later, these guys are not new to the game and definitely know how to put on an excellent show. Hearing their blaring trumpet lines, dreamy vocals and that sweet tinge of a Glasgow accent, fans were pleased to get a good dose of songs from Camera Obscura’s most recent album, Desire Lines, released earlier this year.
She & Him followed up with an equally energetic set (Zooey literally bounced her way to center stage), backed by a pleasantly large band. Laden with doo-wop, three-part harmonies, retro drum beats and interspersed stripped down numbers, She & Him captured both the timelessness of 1940s cabaret and classic 1960s surf pop. While many M. Ward fans were probably hoping for him to take the spotlight more, it was always a pleasant surprise when he came in on their duets, like their classic cover of “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me”. Despite what tougher critics may have said, Zooey’s quirky charm held up in their live performance and appeared to be genuine — it’s hard not to swoon when she’s jumping up and down and shaking that tambourine like it’s what she was born to do.