By Josie Reinker
The alt-indie group The Orphan The Poet energized the crowd at their sold-out show on February 3rd at Natalie’s Grandview Music Hall. Based out of Columbus, Ohio, this was a hometown show for the band. As such, the show marked the first time their recent release, Daisies was played in its city of origin. The Orphan The Poet (TOTP) is fronted by David Eselgroth (vocals and guitar), who started the project alongside long-time friend Jake Floyd (bass). The Columbus concert also featured current touring member Blue McDaniel (drums). Playing a sold-out show at Natalie’s is a mile marker for the duo as they grow in popularity.
Opening the night, emerging artist cloudflower put on an enticing performance with released and unreleased songs as well as a cover of Smash Mouth's All Star. Frontman Jesse Barron (vocals) has been working closely with the boys in TOTP for many years and shared his admiration by dedicating the song Heartline to them. Many fans in the crowd were sporting cloudflower tee shirts, and plenty of new fans accumulated throughout the night.
The second band, noise ctrl, welcomed the crowd warmly by bringing their A-game. The audience was captivated by the showmanship of singer Kenny Thompson, who also shared his wide vocal range during the performance. Members of the group fed off of the excitement circulating the room during their set. From fans singing into the microphone to a mosh pit in the audience, noise ctrl cultivated an environment that engaged all present.
After two phenomenal openers, headliner The Orphan The Poet took the stage. Unsurprisingly, their hit song Summer Daze immediately got everyone off their feet. Throughout the set, there was no lack of movement in the crowd. A brief cover of the One Direction song What Makes You Beautiful towards the middle of the set kept the energy flowing as the group led into a fan-favorite moment of TOTPs live performances. David steps out into the crowd to sing the bridge of their song Birthday, which encourages the audience to light up their cell phone flashlights. David’s minimally accompanied vocals shine through as the audience sings along to every word.
The trio of songs that complete the set create everlasting memories for all in attendance. Starting this outro strong, Daisies sparks excitement in the crowd. While the song was played in other cities prior to its release, this performance marks the first time many fans have heard it live. The response to the new release is overwhelming as many already know the words. The audience remains captivated as Jake begins the simple yet catchy bassline that introduces the song Queen Cobra. Fans continue their intense engagement with the band; there is even a crowd surfer! The night closed with Feelin' Good (Could Be Better) during which the crowd sang the lyrics louder than the sound system. A fan favorite, the song rose to popularity with social media exposure in 2022 and has remained a favorite.
After a solid finish to the set, fans gather with one another, forming bonds through the music they love. Jake, David, and Blue rush to meet these ecstatic audience members at the merch table. The Orphan The Poet provides intimacy to fans that other artists and shows may lack. You can feel the love that the crowd has for the music, the artists, and one another.
Check out cloudflower!
Instagram: @cloudflowerband
Check out noise ctrl!
Instagram: @noisectrlband
Check out The Orphan The Poet!
Instagram: @totpband
I heard that girl who crowd surfs is reallyyyy cool