On October 16th, Night Moves stopped in Kansas City at recordBar for a night that felt like looking back on memories through a flickering VHS camcorder, like a hazy nostalgia glowing beneath an analog grain. Night Moves is a Minneapolis-based indie rock band currently touring the United States to promote their newest album, Double Life, a 40 minute breeze back in time with themes of reflection alongside catchy melodies that sound like tracks you’d hear on Casey Kasem’s American Top 40.

The night began with Sam Blascucci setting the tone with a funky and retro sounding set that was very easy to dance along to. Blascucci was doing triple duty on top of vocals, Blasucci and backing bandmate Stewart Forgey rotated between playing bass, guitar, and keys. Blascucci was backed by Nate Ward on drums keeping a steady tempo while reinforcing that fun and funky vibe. Some highlights of Blasucci’s set included notable covers of “Brass In Pocket” by The Pretenders and “Kiss of Life” by Sade which the audience adored. Blasucci also played songs from his June album ALL BLUE, a highlight being “PASSIONATELY BAD,” the bassline and drumming played off of each other in a way that made it impossible not to sway along too.

Before the first note was even played, the crowd was going wild as Night Moves took the stage. John Pelant (vocal, keys, guitar) was dressed for the spotlight in a green fringe jacket that flowed with his movements, his voice moved from falsettos to powerful belts with ease. On bass, Micky Alfano gave each song its heartbeat with basslines that locked in perfectly with Mark Hanson’s dexterous drumming. Charles Murlowski completed the quartet with his catchy riffs and occasional slide guitar work bringing each song together. The four created a sound that felt cinematic alongside the turquoise and purple lighting.

They began their set with “Fallacy Actually,” Pelant’s harmonica echoing through recordBar as the band launched into a groove that had the whole crowd carried away by the electrifying energy. Beneath the groove in “Fallacy Actually,” written by Pelant and Hanson, lie lyrics exploring the ache of trying to reconnect with someone or something that’s already slipped away. It reflects on the distance and disillusionment in a digital world where real emotions are trapped beneath screens. The mix of introspection and danceable music made it a very fitting opener for this tour,promoting Night Moves’ Double Life, an album built on that mix of introspection and pure grooves.

“Hold on to Tonight” furthered the balance between emotional intimacy and 80s glam rock goodness. The sound of synths filled the venue as Murlowski began playing the opening slide guitar riff, creating a sound that was hauntingly motivational. “Hold on to Tonight” is a song that inspires the crowd to recognize their own mortality and the importance of living in the moment. Hanson’s crescendo on the drums before the final chorus made the song feel positively cinematic, really hammering the themes of the song into the audience’s hearts.

A highlight of the night was “Hiding in The Melody,” another track from their 2016 album, Pennied Days. The song features Pelant and Murlowski playing an Allman Brothers-esque twin guitar harmonies anchored by Hanson and Alfano, a combination that completely enamored the crowd. “Hiding in The Melody” also showcased Pelant’s stellar vocal range, featuring him switching between high falsettos and powerful belts.

The band’s main set ended with “Only to Live in Your Memories,” slowing down the pace and hypnotizing the audience with breakdown in the middle of the song: “cause I feel love / and I held on / cause I feel love / it’s the night time / in your right mind” before gradually bringing the band back before a crescendo on drums from Hanson brings the track back to its full energy. Before Night Moves could even fully get off stage after their triumphant end to “Only to Live in Your Memories,” the crowd was already stomping and chanting for an encore performance. The band returned to play “Desperation” and “Ribboned Skies” to end the night.

Double Life may be their newest release, but Night Moves has curated a sound that every generation can connect with, writing contemplative reflections on the human experience. That generational connection was evident in recordBar as Night Moves had invited the crowd to live in the moment while evoking a sense of nostalgia, a combination you can’t strike anywhere other than a Night Moves show.