Washington, DC – Union Stage was buzzing with excitement when up-and-coming UK band Easy Life took the stage for their first DC show. Having just launched their tour in Philadelphia the day before, Easy Life came out on fire, with a strong beginning to their 16-city US tour.
Easy Life skipped an opener, and started promptly at 7:30 pm with “Pockets,” playing through most of their brand new release Life’s a Beach. The crowd arrived ready to rock out, and surprised the band by singing along to every song. Some of the crowd favorites included “Sangria,” “Homesickness,” “Daydreams,” and “Nightmares.” After the band finished their planned set and left the stage, the audience demanded “One more song!” After a brief pause, the band returned with an encore of “Pockets” (with intro) and chatted up the crowd.
Easy Life, an English alternative indie group, was formed by their frontman Murray Matravers in Leicester in 2017. Their third mixtape, JunkFood, reached #7 on the UK Albums Chart a day after it’s release. Life’s a Beach, their debut studio album, was released May 28th, 2021. The band consists of Murray Matravers (vocals, synthesizer, keyboard, trumpet), Oliver Cassidy (drums, percussion), Sam Hewitt (bass guitar, saxophone, backing vocals), Lewis Alexander Barry (guitar), and Jordan Birtles (percussion, keyboard, backing vocals). The band is currently signed to Island Records.
Easy Life is halfway through their first tour, having just completed the European leg of the tour. They played a notable number of countries in Europe including Paris, Zurich, Vienna, Stockholm, and Amsterdam. The North American Tour will also include stops in New York, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Columbus, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, before concluding in Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 3rd.
The band is known for its unique, one-of-a-kind virtual appearance in the video game Fortnite. Easy Life played many of the songs from their new album in the online Fortnite Creative, The O2 in Fortnite. The event ushered players into a virtual re-creation of the famed O2 Arena in London, where the band welcomed players on a huge screen. The game then brought players through multiple pop art style rooms which featured the band performing, music video style.
Located in DC’s The Wharf, Union Stage is one of three music venues located in the 2017 waterfront development. Union Stage offers an intimate environment, and plays host to a variety of musical artists, themed events, open mic nights, and comedy shows. While smaller in area at 7500 square feet, the venue offers a great view of the stage for all attendees, and can accommodate up to 450 people.
Union Stage is the second venue in the area launched by the owners of famed Jammin’ Java of Vienna, VA. Jammin’ Java was named one of America’s 40 Best Music Venues by Paste Magazine in 2007.
