Ambar Ramirez Carmen Macri
Our love letter to Two Door Cinema Club
Words by Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri
It has been a long time coming — 17 years to be exact — and it was well worth the wait. Two Door Cinema Club finally made their way from Northern Ireland to the Sunshine State during their U.S. and Canada 2024 tour — and with none other than Jacksonville’s very own Flipturn.
At “Folio,” we’re well-versed in Flipturn’s incredible showmanship, so we arrived ready in our dancing boots. The night began with a thrilling performance of our favorite song, “Sad Disco,” perfectly setting the tone for the evening. Any concertgoers who weren’t fans before were undoubtedly converted. Flipturn has a knack for captivating the audience, seamlessly transitioning from mellow tracks like “Space Cowboy” to fan favorites like “August.” It was hard to believe they were only the openers.
Having formed in Jacksonville, the audience already had a deep connection with the band and they knew it too — throwing in a few “DUUUVAL” chants here and there between songs.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Dillon Basse commands the stage with the presence of someone born to perform, creating a captivating synergy that brings his band members together in perfect harmony. His natural charisma and energy resonate through every song leaving the crowd begging for more. The band seamlessly fuses the eclectic and vibrant tones of indie music with the timeless essence of classic rock — a perfect appetizer for the much-anticipated main course.
Two Door Cinema Club finally answered our missed calls and decided we needed to meet face-to-face. They even captioned their most recent post with what feels like a love letter to the neglected state: “So many firsts so far on this tour… Miami, Jacksonville, and next up, Asheville! We’ve had so many beautiful first dates; there’s a gorgeous romance blooming.” It was as if Jacksonville was the shy, overlooked partner in a love story, finally getting its moment to shine. And what better place to have the perfect first date than at Daily’s Place? The band’s energy was infectious, and the crowd’s enthusiasm made it clear that this first date was something special. Jacksonville had been waiting for this moment, and it turned out to be worth the wait.
When Two Door Cinema Club first took the stage in 2007, they were known as Life Without Rory, likely a nod to one of the many school crushes that come with being 16. Life Without Rory released three demos before disbanding. Shortly after, vocalist and guitarist Alex Trimble, lead guitarist Sam Halliday and bassist Kevin Baird formed a new band—Two Door Cinema Club, inspired by Halliday’s mispronunciation of a local cinema, Tudor Cinema. And the rest was history.
When the band released their first studio-produced album “Tourist History,” which included hits like “What You Know” and “Undercover Martyn,” it was clear that the band was here to stay.
The connection was immediate, and a new chapter in this musical romance began. Except we already know everything about the Northern Ireland band and wasted no time on “getting to know each other.” The show started with a song from their 2010 “Tourist History” album— “This Is the Life” quickly followed by another smash hit “I Can Talk” off the same record.
The millennial band seamlessly weaved between recent and classic tracks, making sure that the crowd had no chance to slow down and stop dancing. Some of the latest tracks performed included songs from their 2022 “Keep On Smiling” Album. You know the saying, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — the band took that personally. With their newer tracks “Wonderful Life” and “Messenger AD (intro)” they perfectly blend the nostalgic sounds of their signature synth-pop with refreshed lyrics, paying homage to the fans who grew up with them while also inviting a newer generation to the party.
It is important to note that while Two Door Cinema Club could very well classify as a millennial band, they have not pigeonholed themselves yet. The crowd at Daily’s Place was equally filled with gen-Zers (ourselves included) singing and dancing (and screaming) right along.
The band truly knows how to deliver an unforgettable performance, keeping the crowd captivated and on the edge of their seats. As with any great act, Two Door Cinema Club reserved their best tracks for the final moments. To be honest, after igniting the iconic two-clap intro of “Undercover Martyn,” nothing else seemed to matter. The people around us faded into the background, and it felt like the entire arena shared our sense of euphoria. Like that moment in every true rom-com when the two main characters finally kiss — the lights fade and all the extras disappear.
Unfortunately, the moment only lasted for two minutes and 47 seconds because once the opening riff of “Cigarettes in the Theatre” graced our ears, we were back to singing and dancing (and screaming). So much so that we hardly realized that the set was coming to a close. We were far too immersed in the nostalgic sounds of our childhoods — though, even for newcomers, the band still has a knack for exuding a sense of sentimentality with their music.
It took one note, one guitar riff, and the lyrics “In a few weeks,” for the audience to go wild. And that’s when we realized what was right before our eyes (pun intended) — “What You Know.” The perfect ending to a perfect first date and the perfect ending to our concert review.
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