The Catalyst in Santa Cruz is one of those venues where history hangs heavy in the rafters. It’s a place that has seen everything from Willie Nelson to punk chaos to indie legends, a club that is both small enough to feel intimate yet big enough to hold a restless crowd pressed shoulder to shoulder. Tucked downtown a few blocks from the ocean, the room itself is a rite of passage for anyone serious about live music in Northern California. On September 10, that stage belonged to Sunny Day Real Estate.
Jeremy Enigk has one of the most unique voices out there. His vocal range and intonation go from hum to scream, vibrating highs to growling, melodious lows. It’s truly impressive, and it still holds up 30 years after SDRE’s breakthrough records came out.
I could feel the crowd’s anticipation. I could feel the build; it’s not every show that carries that kind of charge. Some fans are impatient, some are out on school nights for their favorite bands, and a workday in the mind can really fuck with the energy. It was indeed a school night, and the anticipation was palpable. I witnessed no house or band photographer, and the look on Jeremy’s face that anyone showed up at all was remarkable. Did he forget that he created Sunny Day? Did he forget the unforgettable Return of the Frog Queen solo album he crafted that took hardcore sounds to a symphonic level? I was more astounded at his astonishment than at any sound or moment that occurred next.
The band was there with three original members, and the new-era guitarist Greg Suran was supercharged. Three songs in, he exclaimed, “I am very stoned right now.” Everyone chuckled. One or two songs later, he added, “You guys in California smoke really strong stuff.” Jeremy jumped in jokingly: “Which one of you did this?” Maybe Jeremy was indeed worried. No worries, though, the set was dead-on perfect.
I’ve seen this band many times. Well, not this band, but the original. I’ve seen Jeremy solo with strings. There is literally no difference in impact that the live effects of this band can shell out all these years later. I was so into it, knowing I was the only one documenting that night, that I spent the entire set filming and photographing, very unlike me. Typically, I go for the music to experience the music, shoot 3-4 songs, and then patron out. But I was willing to sweat profusely to capture this. I didn’t care. It felt like it needed to last forever.
How do you even describe a perfect show? Humility? Check. Consistency—thirty years later? Check. Crowd—well-behaved, attentive, kind, even? Check. Quality merch and vinyl? Check. I could go on, but I think you get the point: perfection was achieved.
Friday
Seven
One
Theo B
Song About an Angel
Pillars
The Blankets Were the Stairs
Roses in Water
Disappear
48
Bucket of Chicken
Pheurton Skeurto
J’Nuh
The Rising Tide
Encore:
Novum Vetus
In Circles
Sometimes
I believe that How It Feels to Be Something On is their greatest opus. You may disagree and choose the Pink Record or Diary, but I’m telling you…Give it a whirl. They played several tracks from each record, but “Roses in Water” stood out as the moment the band synergized. After that, the blasted guitar player got on the mic and said, “I’m gonna be very hungry after this.” Everyone laughed.
I can honestly say that the portrayal of each song was almost exact to the original record. It’s odd to recall that for live shows because it’s generally not the goal. Jams happen, little flourishes happen, but this was a carbon copy, and I can tell that’s just what Jeremy was going for. The applause for more was almost riotous. I can only hope there will be another tour. Maybe Jeremy got the message. If not, I have the proof it ever happened in the first place.
