Great Good Fine OK w/ Flor
Crocodile, Seattle, WA
01.17.17
Beginning with the Killers in the early 2000s to synth-pop flag-bearers Walk The Moon, the synthesizer has made a major comeback in the last decade. Its increasing presence in mainstream pop music has instilled a sense of fun into many a band’s core. For NY synth-pop duo, Great Good Fine OK, that sense of fun induced plenty of danceable moments during their stop at Seattle’s Crocodile.
LA – by way of Hood River, OR – foursome, Flor, kicked off the night. Lead singer Zach Grace brought his baby face and inescapable energy to the stage. His voice carried a smooth falsetto that complimented the heavy percussion and raw guitar riffs. When he was not at the mic, Grace bounced around the stage, interacting with his bandmates, and taking in the moment. Flor’s songwriting was solid and technically refined, though not without a freshness that made it fun and unpredictable.
The best parts of Flor’s set were the extremes. “Get Behind This” induced an immediate dance party with its happy beats and magnetism. Later in the night, Grace broke out the acoustic guitar for introspective ballad, “Let Me In,” during which he got the crowd to sing along. Drummer Kyle Hill was a standout, and left it all behind the kit with incredible energy. The band seemed to have a solid fan base in the crowd, which resulted in great audience engagement.
Having garnered a place atop plenty of “new artists to watch” lists, NY synth-pop duo Great Good Fine OK might have a weird band name, but they have the chops and showmanship to back it up. The band, started by keyboardist Luke Moellman and vocalist Jon Sandler, gained traction in the pop scene after successful single releases from 2013-2016 and touring in support of acts such as Tove Lo, X Ambassadors, and The Griswolds.
To say GGFO have flair for the theatric is an understatement, especially when Sandler came out on stage in what looked like three different Nehru jackets and shoes that had red and blue lights in the soles. After he stepped out, he showered the crowd with handfuls of glow sticks and we let the night commence.
GGFO had an obvious chemistry and the beats that Moellman put together with his synthesizer keyboard and vibraphone were downright spectacular, with awesome layers. Their songs spoke of lovelorn situations, getting out and dancing, as well as general happiness. If there was a darker song in the mix, you really couldn’t tell because their tunes all had vibrant beats and tones within them. Sandler was an absolute machine on stage, always taking the opportunity to engage the crowd, or show off his pop-and-lock skills.
Standout songs included the funky declaration of love, “Without You,” and end of the night anthemic dance tune “Too Much To Handle.” Crowd abuzz, their music instilled a happy, party vibe in the room. The shared an endearing story about last year’s set at Capitol Hill Block Party, during which everything went wrong and nothing worked, therefore making them improvise a synth-pop-acoustic set that Sandler described as “something that should never happen in music.”
After the story, they conveyed their thanks to Seattle for putting up with the snafu and how they could not wait to get here to redeem themselves. It was a great moment to say the least and safe to say, that redemption was successful.
Review and photos by Phillip Johnson
Great Good Fine OK
Flor
