Review: Duster at The Grey Eagle

When slowcore legends Duster stopped by The Grey Eagle on Easter Sunday, there was a buzzing excitement among attendees — a shared enthusiasm to see this typically elusive band. The audience was notably young compared to the band itself, a trend most likely related to Duster’s recent virality on Tiktok. While this aspect concerned me at first — I’ve seen show etiquette steadily decline since live music picked back up after the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming increasingly more saturated with inexperienced concert-goers drawn by social media — I was pleasantly surprised to find a generally respectful crowd. 

Perhaps due to the mellow and sensitive nature of Duster’s music, or maybe some sort of religious reverence for the holiday, there was an appreciation for the musicians, the venue, and, refreshingly, each other. When Canaan Dove Amber stepped onto the stage, tuning his guitar, he was seemingly unphased by the push of the crowd towards the stage and their rampant cheers. But, launching into their first song, “The Twins/Romantica,” Duster’s distinct sound immediately quieted the room with its droning, despairing growl.

While the band’s stationary stage presence left something to be desired, there was a certain charm to their no-nonsense performance. With alternating lead vocals from Amber and fellow frontman Clay Parton, the band captured the audience's attention in their dream-like web of music, save for the “whoop”s that emerged from the crowd when they played ”Inside Out” and “Obitron” (the songs that launched their popularity on TikTok). 

Rather than prioritizing tracks from their 2022 album, Together, Parton and Amber (backed by steady bass and drums) moved around their discography, only playing “Making Room” from their most recent release. Still, with all the variety, the setlist was expertly sequenced, and the energy of the room flowed smoothly with it. 

Once the show wrapped up, there was an immediate push to the merch table — a clear testament to the shared appreciation of the performance. As I moved to the side wall and collected my thoughts, it became clear that Duster’s distinct sound had evolved into something more than just depressing background music to zone out with at home. Seeing them in the close quarters of The Grey Eagle granted a new appreciation for the complexities of their echoing, haunting style that’s difficult to pick up on in recorded form. 

The power of live music wins yet again.

(Photo by Astrid Salinger)