Review: Racing Mount Pleasant sets a new standard for Friday Night Rock

Friday Night Rock kicked off the winter term with a standout show on Friday, Jan. 23, bringing Racing Mount Pleasant to Sarner Underground for what I consider the best FNR performance I’ve seen here at Dartmouth.

The night opened with a set from NYC-based artist Dan English, who performed selections from his 2025 album “Sky Record.” English’s setlist leaned toward the ethereal — often bordering on ambient — with hushed vocals floating above organically layered arrangements that blurred together into a deeply satisfying whole. While the songwriting and atmosphere were compelling, the performance felt constrained by the scale of the setup. Accompanied only by a pianist and a cellist, much of the immersive, multi-instrumental production that made his “Sky Record” so enveloping was difficult to fully translate to the small stage.

That sense of limitation disappeared the moment Racing Mount Pleasant took over the room.

Formerly known as Kingfisher, the band’s setlist drew primarily from their 2025 self-titled album “Racing Mount Pleasant,” an album that narrowly missed my “Top 10 Albums That Defined 2025” article, which now feels almost criminal after seeing it live. This past October, they opened for the first leg of Geese’s “Getting Killed” tour.

The album itself feels like a fresh reimagining of contemporary alt-rock, blending elements of Car Seat Headrest and Black Country, New Road with the clear influence of David Bowie in its swooning saxophone lines and the chamber-pop richness of Destroyer’s recent work. Performed live, this blended sound grew into something more expansive and powerful than I could have anticipated.

Despite the venue being only about half full, the energy in Sarner Underground was unmistakable. Nearly everyone in the room was dancing, and the band’s performance was nothing short of electric. Simply being in the space, you could feel how completely the audience was swept up in the intensity of the performance.

One of the most transcendent moments of the night, and perhaps in my life, came during “Emily.” The song’s slowly unfolding, swelling structure never fails to captivate me, which is precisely why it soundtracked my walks to class for at least a week straight last fall. Hearing it live was otherworldly in every sense, driven by Kaysen Chown’s virtuosic string work, Sam DuBose’s intense and emotionally raw vocals and Connor Hoyt’s wildly passionate alto saxophone performance. The band later told me they played the song “extra loud” after hearing me lose my mind screaming when it began and sing along to every lyric, which captures the intimacy of the night.

Other highlights included the soaring group vocals on the title track “Racing Mount Pleasant” and the tightly unified ensemble performance of “Call It Easy,” particularly during its explosive ending. These moments showcased just how cohesively the seven-person band works together in crafting a sound that feels symphonic without losing its raw edge.

In addition to attending the concert as a fan, I was photographing the event, which gave me the opportunity to speak with the band afterward. Every member took the time to introduce themselves, ask about my life and share genuine enthusiasm for the conversation — they even signed my vinyl and took a photo with me afterward. Their humility matched the sincerity of their music, and the interaction only deepened my appreciation for how grounded the band remains, even after opening for a band as prominent as Geese.

Credit is also due to the Friday Night Rock team, who ran a seamless event with vibrant lighting and clear sound throughout the night. From drink service during the show to pizza beforehand, the care put into every detail, paired with the talent of the artists, made the night an indisputable standout within the Friday Night Rock tradition.