As someone who lived through the indie pop wave of 2018–2019, I honestly thought that era was over for me. Back then, I was fourteen, just starting to dig into music beyond the Top 40 — sharp guitars over lo-fi beats, heavy surf rock vibes, all the stuff that made me feel cool and in-the-know. I still have my old playlist from the time, but hearing it live absolutely revived my middle school heart.
Walking into the crowded upstairs room at New Brookland Tavern, I felt like I’d rediscovered Dayglow (pre-“Can I Call You Tonight?”) for the first time. If you were ever into Boy Pablo during his Roy Pablo EP days in 2017, trust me: go listen to Phoneboy — especially their 2021 self-titled debut. It’s fun, it’s groovy, and it’ll take you straight back to your middle school indie phase.
I only knew a couple of their songs before the show, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. South Carolina shows are tricky — sometimes it’s a ghost town, sometimes it’s packed wall-to-wall. Last night? Definitely packed. It was the biggest crowd I’ve seen at NBT since Winyah opened for Stoplight Observations. As someone who’s usually the youngest in the room, I suddenly felt old. Like, old. At twenty. Between the eleven-year-old in the front and the swarm of high schoolers, I could feel my bones creak under the bass.
What I love most is when a band looks like they’re having just as much fun as the crowd. And Phoneboy delivered — the energy was absolutely killer. The room was filled with dedicated fans, people already rocking merch, and even one guy holding a signed dial phone (absolute legend). They even tried to start a mosh pit, which looked like a blast… though I’ll admit, I was busy guarding my camera by the side stage.
If you’re missing the bubblegum pop vibes of early Clairo or the jangly, synthy goodness of late-2010s indie, give Phoneboy a listen. Leaving the venue last night, with the synth beats still ringing in my ears, I felt like I was fourteen and thinking I was cooler than everyone again. And honestly? That felt pretty great.
