West 22nd • June 7, 2025 • Kilby Court
Reviewed and Photographed by Matisse McMullin
There’s something undeniably magical about summer nights at Kilby Court, like an electric and hazy feel that settles in as the sun goes down. I was reminded of that magic at West 22nd’s show on Saturday night.
The Austin-based indie rock band finally made their long-awaited stop in Salt Lake City as part of their Nowhere To Be tour. They took the stage and played a show that was sweaty, loud, and perfect in a way only a summer concert in a tiny, authentic venue can be. With the crowd pressed close under the stage lights and guitars echoing off of the graffiti-covered walls, it seemed like one of those nights that feels like pure summer.
Before the sold-out show began, fans were already crammed tight right up against the small stage in eager anticipation. Others peered through the small side window from the outside to avoid the muggy heat of the garage. There seemed to be a buzz in the courtyard air as the sound of crickets, the preshow playlist, and excited chatter blended together in the background.
The five members finally emerged from the back door. They were full of charisma and energy, as the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd erupted into enthusiastic cheers and applause. West 22nd kicked off their set with the catchy track “Can’t Help It” from their newly released album, which came out this April. This is the band’s debut full length album, and it perfectly showcases their evolving sound that seems to draw from indie rock, alternative, surf rock, and folk.
They followed up “Can’t Help It” with several other songs from their new album Nowhere To Be as the crowd danced and sang along. Part of what makes West 22nd so fun to watch is the obvious camaraderie between the bandmates. Throughout their set, they interacted and goofed off with one another, sharing laughs and playful gestures on the stage. When it’s clear that the musicians are having a good time, the crowd can’t help but join in.
The mood shifted seamlessly when they played “I Wonder Why”, a song that added emotional depth to the evening set. This slower track allowed frontman Logan Madsen to showcase his powerful vocals and raw emotional expressiveness. As the song progressed, the crowd raised their arms in the air and swayed gently along to the music. Madsen stopped singing during the last couple of lines, prompting the crowd to join in, then smiled and said, “Beautiful”.
West 22nd continued their setlist with several upbeat songs from older EPs and singles. Among these was “Sleeping Alone”, a thrashy rock track with gritty guitars, a punchy beat, and raspy vocals. The crowd consistently matched the band’s energy as they shifted between different moods of the songs.
The bass shook the walls as the crowd rocked out to the heavy beat of the drums. The band jammed onstage, messing around with one another as they fed off the crowd’s energy. During the bridge of the song, the intensity grew as people began moshing wildly, with Madsen hyping it up from the mic.
As the excitement in the room picked up, West 22nd launched into their most streamed track, “Sunburns”. Released in 2023, this single gained popularity on the app TikTok, introducing fans, like myself, to this gem of a band.
The crowd went wild the moment the opening chords hit. People were jumping, singing at the top of their lungs, and recording the moment on their phones to relive later. It was clear that this was a moment people had been waiting for all evening.
“Save Your Soul” came next and the crowd mellowed out once more. The band briefly left the stage, leaving only Gabe Acevedo on guitar and backup vocals, and Logan Madsen handling lead vocals. This stripped-down setup brought an intimate feel to the performance, drawing everyone in.
Madsen jokingly explained that they’re doing a little contest on the tour across cities to see who can stay the quietest during this reflective, heartfelt song. It was a playful way to encourage everyone to fully soak in the moment.
The two played and sang the acoustic tune together with the audience completely engaged. Toward the end of the song, the bandmates invited the crowd to sing along with them, everyone joining in on the melody together.
The remaining West 22nd members then rejoined Acevedo and Madsen onstage to finish out the setlist, which included other fan favorites like catchy “Laugh It Off” and upbeat “Sunny Jones”, along with two other tracks from the new album “Virginia Highlands” and “All I Ever Wanted”.
At one point Madsen jumped into the crowd and the place went absolutely wild. Fans eagerly lifted him up and passed him around the tiny garage-style venue, all the way to the point where he was touching and hanging from the ceiling. It was one of those chaotic, unforgettable moments that everyone will be talking about long after the show ends.
A final standout moment of the night was the band’s cover of MGMT’s hit “Kids”. The familiar and nostalgic melody instantly energized the room, with the audience cheering, clapping, and singing along, swept up in the shared love of live music.