“The best band in New York,” says Calvin Rezen from Thesaurus Rex.
The 8-piece Brooklyn-based band, Boys Go To Jupiter performed an unforgettable set exuding high energy and superb storytelling through their musicality and lyricism. They celebrated the release of their newest single, “Tiltawhirl”, by performing it live at Brooklyn Made.
Boys Go To Jupiter is like no other band. They are the type of band with the most spirited and exuberant sets that hold your attention for the entirety of the show. The first time I (Ronnie) saw them was at a backyard show where the members had all come out, and seeing a horn section was exciting, but once I saw the lead singer, Jess Kantorowitz, come out in a lifeguard swimsuit and a snorkel, I knew they would become a favorite.
The Brooklyn Made show was the first time I (Amy) had seen BGTJ and I truly was blown away. Not only by their performance but also by their teamwork and collective energy. Watching the band bounce off one another's energy and continuously hype each other up made me more excited to be there! Their playfulness on stage showed a sense of comfort with the audience and confidence in their performance.
The show’s setlist flowed beautifully, as a planned album would, where the audience is taken on a journey of varying melodies, storylines, and emotions. The set starts with their released song “Overconfident”, which allowed their fans to get into a groove of dancing and jiving as the night had just begun. As the newly released single, “Titltawhirl”, began, the energy in the room only grew. They had stated it was the first time the song was played in New York, which only made their performance more special.
As the upbeat part of the set slowed down with two unreleased tracks, an intimate moment between Kantorowitz, Caleb Martin-Rosenthal, and Luke Volkert is shared as a spotlight shines on them and they sing melancholic songs that display Kantorowitz's beautiful vocal range as she pours her heart out on stage. Having those moments that slow down a show is so important to be able to exhibit the differing levels that the band can actually deliver. The ability to go from a vivacious, whimsical performance to being able to slow down and convey such vulnerable and passionate emotions takes true talent, something this band holds.
They picked it back up with their unreleased song of the working title, “Virginia”, which is when they were joined by Calvin Rezen and Dan Macdonald from Thesaurus Rex, one of their brother bands, for two songs, making it feel even more like a party. The storytelling through the lyricism is both exciting and clever, and Jess’ vocals further portray that. Then they followed up with their most popular song, Wall Street, which made the crowd go wild, singing and dancing along. Their unique songwriting creates such an open space for performing that also allows the audience to feel connected to those on stage. More exciting unreleased tracks were played ending their set, or so we thought as they came back for an encore where they ended it with their own theme song! They had established the theme song as something that must always return with each show, so now people anticipate hearing it.
They have built up such an incredible fanbase that, despite most of their songs being unreleased, everyone knew each word. It was evident in how the second a song started, the audience would erupt in excitement as they knew what was to come. For the song “Virginia”, once Kantorowitz introduced it as a ghost story the audience immediately understood the following song.
This understanding amongst fans for the call and response from the band and audience has been building over the years. Boys Go To Jupiter, creates a spectacle with each performance that makes it impossible not to purchase another ticket, and with each return, you start to learn the words of every song, even the unreleased ones. As a fan, you start to notice the small details in the themed attire they wear on stage. For example, the beach theme they did at the backyard show, the galaxy theme they did at Mercury Lounge in February, and even their Brooklyn Made, they came out in distressed uniforms, all in suits and ties. \
The community that comes from the band doesn’t only appear in the crowd but also onstage with the dynamic they have as a band. Everyone shines on stage, as they all take their part to showcase their talents. With a saxophone, a trombone, AND a trumpet, the horn section added elements to their indie rock sound that elevated the atmosphere. Each member in the horn section also took time to have individual solos, where within each solo the other band members cheered them on, truly showing joy and pride in listening to them. I can only describe it as the most beautiful clashing of instruments and vocals in one place.
Boys Go To Jupiter has completely established itself as a band, which is seen in the fanbase that understands them and is devoted to them, their live performances, and their music. This conciseness shows up in the tightness of their sets, as they have established a stable presence full of jokes, audience interactions, a flow between each song, and their ability to deliver an incredible set all while having fun onstage with one another. Boy Go To Jupiter is one of the sets you cannot miss, and you can catch them at Little Field on July 13 alongside other exciting acts.
Written by Amy Kapel and Veronica Anaya
Photographed by Veronica Anaya