The red lights of the marquis at Music Hall of Williamsburg seemed to provide a luminescent trail for Saturday’s eager concert-goers, all of whom were ready to bust down the single door for an evening of music. That night, the stage belonged to Jean Phillip-Grobler, better known as multi-instrumentalist producer St. Lucia (@stlucianewyork), and New York City was certainly ready for the massive display of art his five-piece band delivered.
The evening was unique not only because Grobler’s parents had flown in from South Africa to see him perform (for the first time in a decade), but because two of his band mates had just been married. The air was so light that, from the churning, low-end bass and mono synthesizers to the crack of the snare drum, each of Grobler’s compositions soared through the 875 seat music hall, and the floorboards bounced in due fashion.
St Lucia may borrow from a lot of synth-driven, modern indie bands (MGMT, Passion Pit, Twin Shadow), but those influences are linked with a vintage approach from veterans such as Tears For Fears, Eurhythmics, and Depeche Mode. Grobler even yanks from Bruce Springsteen with epic count-offs before launching into his tunes. The combination is unique and captivating, particularly when presented live.
This man is more than just a Brooklyn-based producer with one or two great songs. St. Lucia is for real.
