Public Works
The Sky Changes, but the Setlist Doesn’t
When skies shift, so does the show. In the case of the Public Works’ show this weekend on Friday, August 15th, with a lineup including The Haunting and Twomoonsaway, an unexpected storm caused the two co-headliners to move their original plan of a backyard half-pipe show to their renovated studio in a garage on the property, after Twomoonsaway finished their unforgettable set. Naturally, that wasn't the only challenge Jake (Public Works) had to face, as during the soundcheck for the newly constructed inside show, he found out he would be unable to perform with a microphone. With 50 people staring at him, he only had one option. "I've never done this before,” he said, “so I’m going to try to project as loud as I can and hope this works”. Public Works is a singer-songwriter from New Jersey who creates a diverse range of music spanning from east coast emo to indie, and even exploring genres like folk and alternative pop. Since starting his project Public Works in 2023, Jake’s career has taken off extremely fast, both on social media and streaming platforms, allowing the band to embark on their first tour in April, covering four cities including New York City and Philadelphia. After completing his show in Boston on August 14th, the band decided to immediately hop in their van to make their way back to New Jersey to play a show with their friends.
For almost an hour, Jake was able to keep the entire audience captivated in an intimate but incredibly fun, community-like experience. Even if you don't know any Public Works songs, you could still enjoy the show. Jake's personality was infectious and shining through every lyric he sang in the set, giving people a chance to jump and clap and get involved during almost every song of the set. Opening the set with two unreleased songs, “Coors” and “Friends”, Jake (vocalist), Dylan Skorge (guitarist), Chase Garrett (Bassist), Michael Pellegrino (guitarist), and Losh Heckler (drummer) quickly found their momentum together in these unforeseen circumstances, and immediately the energy of the room exploded.
Following up with his bigger singles, “Dog” and “White Knuckle”, fans screamed their lungs out, letting the moment take them over. Having skyrocketed to fame almost overnight with 42,000 monthly listeners on Spotify since his debut single in 2023, Public Works had never played an intimate show; the garage gave him a rare chance to connect with fans up close. The band intended on closing out on Public Works' hit song “Long Island”, an emotional and moving song written for Jake’s late Uncle Greg, but not without one last encore. As the crowd chanted for an encore, Jake finished on a high note, playing his upbeat pop punk track “Girls Named Tyler”, as the fans celebrated for a final time. The show's atmosphere was one like no other, truly a special night that amplified Jake's talents and his growth as an artist in a short yet rapid timeframe. The night not only highlighted PublicWorks’ ability to pivot and adjust, but also his ability as an artist to captivate a room and showcase his talent, all while keeping fans entertained and a smile on their faces.
Photos & Review by Bek Allegretti