Chilling wind tunneled through the streets of New York City, but no weather could stand in the way of The Runarounds’ fans, who began lining up at 6am at Irving Plaza on 2/19; it was only a matter of time before the line was wrapped around the block. Hand warmers in the palms of hands, fans shivered from the cold and anticipation of the night to come.

As fans packed into the venue, bands such as Foxtide and The Strokes played through the speakers, curating the perfect vibe. If fans had not yet recovered from the cold, Aestrea’s dreamy performance was the exact remedy.

Aestrea from Atlanta is joining The Runarounds for eleven shows of The Minivan Tour. Aestrea’s ethereal indie pop discography contrasted beautifully with The Runarounds' high-energy indie rock explosion. Joining Aestrea (vocals & guitar) on tour is her live band, which consists of Christian Gibbs (drums), Sam Repasky (keys), and Sarf Syed (bass).

As Aestrea walked on stage, deep glowing blue lights coated the stage. She opened with “Siren Song,” and the crowd fell into a trance. Aestrea’s enchanting vocals, mixed with heavy bass and echoing keys, felt like being transported to another dimension. Fans’ eyes stayed beaming with admiration as Aestrea transitioned into the next song, “Quiet Place.” The first half of the song had a slower, melancholy feel, but then Gibbs’ drums kicked in, surprising the crowd and raising the energy in the room to new levels.

Fifth in the set, Aestrea performed her recent February release, “Burning Desire.” The lyricism drew the crowd in and kept them attached to the story being told. The crowd swayed to the rhythm, and phone flashlights illuminated the venue; every heart was touched in some way, whether the song stirred feelings of love, nostalgia, or hatred. There was no doubt that every person in the room was feeling something from the song. 

To close the set, Aestrea performed a cover of “Space Song” by Beach House, which brought everyone even deeper into their hearts, uncovering hidden emotions. The familiarity of the song unified the crowd together as one, and that unity carried them into The Runarounds’ thrilling set. 

Aestrea brings a sense of intimacy to the stage, and with every show, more and more fans become attached. This is Aestrea’s first-ever tour, and it is only the beginning for her. Her sound is so unique, and her dreamy vocals are addictive. Seeing Aestrea live is truly otherworldly, and it's only a matter of time before Aestrea is on her own headlining tour, selling out venues she's opening in.

Photos and Review by Alyssa Bole