Double Standard Performs Their First Ever Show Outside of New York City with Phoneboy at The Foundry

Photography by Ash Schnoor

Review by Ash Schnoor & Genevieve Cai

Up and coming queer and fully non-male band Double Standard performed at their first ever show out of their home city of New York on June 5th at The Foundry in Philadelphia. They hopped on for the last few shows of Hoboken indie rock band Phoneboy’s Heartbreak Designer tour, which also featured San Antonio indie group Inoha. As the members of Double Standard have been longtime friends with Phoneboy, seeing the two bands collaborate again was very exciting, especially after the release of their self-titled debut EP back in April, which the setlist followed the arc of.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the venue’s velvet curtain lit up with Double Standard’s logo, the night kicked off with an amazing performance of the song “Crush”; this was their first ever single, a love song about the fresh crush feeling and hoping that this crush is different from past ones. I immediately fell in love with Double Standard with this opening. The lead singer, Lydia, captured my attention alone with her ‘BAN MALE PODCASTS’ matching shirt and shorts, and continued to do so with her captivating vocals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, we moved on to “Sweat”, named after the idea of two people mutually making each other sweat upon a first meeting. The 80s jazzercise-esque music video tells the story of an electric attraction with somebody new. Rhythm guitarist Siena took over the main vocals with her distinct, higher pitched voice, and the band had a blast with this song between Lydia shouting the ad libs with a tambourine, lead guitarist Lauren and Siena playing each other’s instruments, and the overall energy that got the whole room sweating.

 

 

 

 

 

The band slowed things down slightly with “DYWKMON”, which stands for ‘Do You Wanna Kiss Me or Not.’ The guitar-heavy song tells the story of a relationship where the singer doesn’t know whether her love interest wants to just have fun together or pursue something serious. The end of the song hears drummer Meg kick up again, but this song marks the transition from having new feelings to being apprehensive about a lover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing on this spiraling path with “nvr c u again,” a self-aware song about going back to the wrong person over and over, the band brought out an even more emotionally charged stream of consciousness with parts that would speed up and slow down.

Double Standard brought it in a little more bass-heavy with their #1 song on Spotify at the moment, “American Psycho.” The song progresses the current theme of knowing you’re in the middle of a failing relationship, staying on the sinking ship with a toxic partner. Siena and Lydia joined back together vocally with fun, danceable harmonies for this song.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second to last was the slowest and most vulnerable song, “to Maine.” This song continues Lydia’s excellent storytelling lyricism, opening with a memory of her favorite day with someone she’d always follow. “to Maine” contrasts the more tongue-in-cheek songs before and after it, like a peek into one’s actual feelings that cannot be helped. Her repeated “I hate most everything but you” is what I noticed had the audience echoing the most.

The five-piece closed out their set with “Bushwick K-Hole (Better Than You)”, an unapologetically sarcastic song about not giving in to a man that is vain and patronizing. Lydia’s spoken-word verse describing the pathetic character is theatrical and sassy, and at this point, Lauren, Siena and bassist Zoe were playing on the ground to give Lydia even more of a stage. We also enjoyed how she changed the lyrics to “You’re in a k-hole stuck in Philly” instead of Bushwick.

 

 

 

 

Overall, Double Standard was an amazing start to an excellent show. As a queer girlband emerging from the conventionally male-dominated indie rock scene, their artistry and message is very special. If you ever get the chance to see them live, we highly recommend it. You can listen to their self-titled debut album on all streaming platforms, as well as visit their Instagram (@doublestandardtheband) or Twitter (@d0ublestandard).