Sunday evening’s show featuring Caamp and Fruition filled the Deer Valley hillside with fans of all ages. Young children hoisted on shoulders, couples nestled together on picnic blankets and gray-haired dancers made up a colorful crowd.
After a performance by opener Fruition, guests were warmed up for the four-piece Ohio boys and their beloved folk/indie tunes. The setlist did not disappoint.
Starting the show promptly at 8 p.m., Taylor Meier, Evan Westfall, Matt Vinson and Joseph Kavalec walked onto a stage adorned with three cow-skin-patterned rugs and a simple set of lights. The crowd cheered and rose to its feet with excitement.
Meier, with his curly-haired mullet and full mustache, was dressed in dark green slacks and a cut-off Trampled by Turtles band shirt that showed off his arms full of tattoos — the picture of a folk/indie artist. He swung on an acoustic guitar with his iconic rainbow strap and played the starting notes to “By and By.”
Accompanied by some of the most recognizable folk instruments, the banjo, upright bass and console piano, the band continued with songs “26,” “See the World” and “Send the Fisherman.” Between songs, Meier sipped from a red solo cup, and other band members wagged cigarettes between their lips.
“Moonsmoke” slowed things down with its mellow, eerie melody. The band played with experimental sound and extended instrumentals, highlighting its talents.
The artists, no strangers to live performances, immersed themselves in their music, moving from song to song with undeniable chemistry. Meier’s voice was unreal, with his recognizable rasp transforming to a perfectly smooth falsetto to hit high notes. They threw in a Dr. Dog cover and joked they’d take more cover requests.
“Vagabond” and “All the Debts I Owe” came last, and the crowd went crazy for these two wildly popular songs. Phones flew up to record and the cheers were deafening.
As the band walked off, the cheers continued as people begged for an encore. In a refreshing take on what appeared to be a planned encore, the foursome returned and treated fans to a never-released song.
Then for the last two songs, “Believe” and “Going to the Country,” Meier hopped on drums and delivered an energetic performance. Almost everyone was on their feet dancing by the end, and Caamp left viewers feeling satisfied by an incredible night of music and excited for their next return to Utah.
