ALFIE TEMPLEMAN’s OPENING NIGHT IN DC
BY ELLA EDWARDS
D.C.’s Atlatnis got a taste of England on October 10th, with indie-pop musician Alfie Templeman’s energetic performance. Following the release of his second studio album this June, titled “Radiosoul”, Templeman announced an international tour, with US, Mexico, UK, and EU dates. He began his twenty-five-night journey with a kick-ass showing in the nation’s capital.
At 8:30, Nashville’s Your Neighbors took the stage, energizing the crowd with their unique brand of funky indie-rock. Walker Robinson’s high, gritty voice and lively stage presence was captivating and engaging. Remarkably, after a guitar string broke during a particularly vigorous solo on the electric, Robinson tuned a new guitar while continuing to sing, demonstrating wild musical talent and a show-must-go-on attitude.
PHOTO BY EMMALEE SULLIVAN
Primed and ready, the audience roared when Alfie Templeman came out at 9:30. He kicked off the show with “3D Feelings”, a track off of his 2022 album “Mellow Moon”. Templeman shocked the crowd to life with this number, hitting his extreme upper register in an impressive falsetto scream. Paired with the light and groovy instrumentation, it made for a very fun opening piece.
PHOTO BY EMMALEE SULLIVAN
He followed this with “Obvious Guy”, from his 2020 EP “Happiness in Liquid Form”, as well as “Film Scene Daydream” and “Everybody’s Gonna Love Somebody”, which appear on his 2021 album “Forever Isn’t Long Enough”. Templeman’s quirky dancing and facial expressions truly mark the experience. Who could look away from this man, who’s shaking his head around and raising up his eyebrows?
Templeman then reached the part of his set to showcase his new music off of “Radiosoul”. He played “Beckham” first, a distinctly British indie-R&B track, followed by “Hello Lonely” and “Just a Dance”. These new songs have striking danceability, and the crowd was certainly feeling it. Templeman’s sound is enough to put a groove in the pants of the most staunch nondancer.
He circled back to an older tune, “Things I Thought Were Mine”, before playing “Eyes Wide Shut”, the funky lead single off of “Radiosoul”. He continued on to “Wait, I Lied”, “Vultures”, and “Dirty Laundry” before closing out his set.
Templeman concluded with tracks off of his 2019 and 2020 EPs, “Don’t Go Wasting Time” and “Happiness in Liquid Form”, playing the dearly loved tracks, “Movies”, “Circles”, “Don’t Go Wasting Time”, and “Happiness in Liquid Form”. For many of his fans, including myself, these songs are intensely nostalgic. It was magical to Templeman play them live. Yet, the real treat of the show was getting to see how Alfie Templeman has evolved as a musician since then, evident in the fantastic tracks off of “Radiosoul”. The future of this tour and album looks bright.
PHOTO BY EMMALEE SULLIVAN
