54 Ultra

Mashing up Studio 54 and Frank Ocean’s mixtape ‘Nostalgia, Ultra’ to create his name 54 Ultra, Johnny Rodriguez channels the vibrant spirit of disco-era glamour and the intimate storytelling of modern R&B, fusing them into a sound built from garage pop, indie rock, and Latin soul. His music draws from the warmth and groove of the 60s and 70s, blending it with synthy indie textures and modern sensibility. It feels both nostalgic and pleasantly fresh like something you'd hear spinning on vinyl decades ago that still feels right at home today. Rodriguez’s show at Songbyrd in Washington DC on October 10th, 2025, felt like a glimpse into a project still growing into itself, and that sense of discovery is part of what makes watching it unfold so engaging.

The stage setup was simple at his show. Lighting shifts and subtle color changes gave each song its own mood without distracting from the performance. Screenager opened the night with a set that eased the crowd into the mood, setting the stage for the atmosphere Rodriguez was about to create. From the moment he stepped on stage, the energy felt warm and inviting, and the room quickly settled into the dreamy, soul-infused sound that defines his music.

Rodriguez’s setlist moved through different moods and textures smoothly. “No Tengo Valor” opened the show with a slow, heartfelt build that immediately captivated the audience. “What More Can I Do” and “Talk 2 Me” followed, both taking on a fuller and more vibrant energy live than they do on record. One memorable moment came when he and the band accidentally started the wrong song and laughed it off on stage. It was small detail but it made the show feel more genuine and human, and the crowd was right there with them. “I Won’t Go” and “Halo” slowed things down, creating space for the instrumentation to breathe and for Rodriguez’s voice to truly shine. Everything felt more euphoric in person, almost hypnotizing the crowd into a state of blissful relaxation. Closing out the night, tracks such as “Upside Down”, “Where Are You”, and “Heaven Knows” carried that same energy, while the closer “Sierra” ended the night with an upbeat finish that left the room buzzing.

It became clear after the night that 54 Ultra is less about polished sounds and more about exploring what happens in the space between influences. Rodriguez doesn't try to recreate soul or indie rock in their traditional forms but instead experiments with how those sounds can coexist. Rodriguez’s work is rooted in nostalgia but not bound by it, and the live show is where that exploration feels most alive.