Concert Preview: TV Girl 6 and 1/2 Year Anniversary of French Exit Tour at Black Cat DC 10/9

French Exit album art

French Exit album art

JJ Smith

TV Girl fans eagerly anticipate the trio’s appearance on the Black Cat stage as the band’s U.S. leg of tour continues to Washington, D.C. on October 9th. TV Girl is a blend of retro 1960s French pop and post-modern California soul. Formed in 2010 in San Diego, the band is now Los Angeles based and consists of Brad Petering, Jason Wyman, and Wyatt Harmon. The band showcases a unique pop sound with subtle dream pop tones and slightly debauched lyrics, built on a foundation of a variety of cinematic samples.

In 2014, the band released their first full-length album, French Exit. Featured tracks unravel the stories of sullen characters consumed by love, jealously, revenge, and deep desires to connect. Superficially, the album reeks of nostalgia and the carefree nature of summertime, with its range of delicate vocals, witty lyrics depicting a grim side of modern relationships, and atmospheric electro-synths. Comprehensively, the album hints at underlying cynical expression and unhealthy approaches to female-focused relationships. The band has previously described their music as indie pop and “you can sing along to it, but I wouldn’t sing around your parents.”

Now, nearly 6 and ½ years following its release, French Exit will be performed from beginning to end for the first time with a full band. Tickets for the U.S. leg of the tour sold out quickly, a feat that’s a clear indication of fans’ anticipation for the occasion.

“Birds Dont Sing” is the second track of the band’s debut album that features a memorable hook and entertaining lyrics. The stand-out track embodies a tropical, cheerful nostalgia with lyrics surrounding the end of a relationship. TV Girl creates a breath of fresh air with this track, implying that such a breakup can be a relief worthy of laughter.

“The Blonde” is a relaxing track with swirling synths and a gloomy bassline. It takes inspiration from subtle scat-style singing and tells a story of self-acceptance and physical changes made to garner validation, specifically given society’s pursuit of and fascination with Blondes.

The closing track, “Anjela,” features a steady blend of crashing percussion and acoustic guitar, creating a repetitive melody as a foundation for the backstory of a lost love brushed aside by the speaker feigning indifference.

TV Girl is performing in DC at the Black Cat this Saturday, October 9th at 8 pm. It’s a sold-out show, and physical or photographic proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result received within the past 72 hours as well as a valid photo identification are required at the door.