Author: Mars Nelson
While Capitol Hill filled with young people eager for Halloween night, a smaller crowd gathered for Laundry Day’s long-awaited return to Seattle. The Vera Project offered the perfect intimate backdrop for the New York-based four-piece’s Time of Your Life tour. By the time I arrived, a line of teens and twenty-somethings wrapped around the venue, buzzing with anticipation for a high-energy night.
Opening the night was WhatMore, a group whose blend of jazz, indie, pop, and hip-hop generated a sound adjacent to Brockhampton while simultaneously remaining completely their own. Their easy camaraderie and infectious energy set the tone, creating a sense of brotherhood that mirrored Laundry Day’s own dynamic. They didn’t just warm up the crowd, they invited us into the night’s spirit of fun and connection.
When the lights dimmed again, the spotlight appeared not on the stage but on the balcony where guitarist Henry W., dressed as Sue Sylvester from Glee, introduced the band through a megaphone. Moments later, the rest of the group emerged in full costume: Sawyer as Elphaba, Henry P. as Roadkill, and Jude as a Pregnant Juno. Despite the humor, their artistry still shone throughout the set.
The show’s setlist was perfectly balanced, alternating between high-energy fan favorites and tracks from their newest album, Earworm. The crowd moved in sync with the band, often taking over lyrics when the members broke into laughter or got lost in the moment. The floor shook as we danced under the flashing lights. Even when they tried to shock us with pranks (like Jude “giving birth” mid-song) the crowd was game. Midway through, they slowed things down, allowing the lights and harmonies to highlight their musical depth beyond the playful costumes and TikToks that they have become known for. The encore featured their lead single “SUPERMODEL”, the explosive album closer “SEE U IN ANOTHER LIFE”, and a bittersweet cover of (“I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”, a fitting nod to the tour’s title.
The band’s attention to detail when it came to the fan experience proved that Laundry Day values their audience just as much as the audience values its band. There were subtle things like the pre-show playlist consisting only of songs that the band has covered on TikTok and larger gestures like the fan chosen song they play at every stop on tour. In Seattle, however, fan-pick felt extra special. They dedicated “My Shining Star”, a song from their 2019 album, to Soph, a fan who had flown from Miami for the show. Not only did they play the song for her but they handed her the mic to celebrate her birthday and acknowledge her dedication, turning the performance into a shared memory. After the show, the band stayed in the venue until midnight, chatting, filming TikToks, and signing posters for every fan who waited.
Spending Halloween with Laundry Day felt special. They turned the Vera Project into a house party. There was space to jump around and dance but there was also room to have deeply personal connections and heartfelt moments. A Laundry Day show truly is the time of your life.
Mars Nelson | Program Director