Rain and Fuji Rock are close associates, rain seems to pop up yearly. Usually it is an inconvenience. But sometimes it can be a mood maker. And what music pairs better with rain than sludgy, gloomy goth guitars and earnest vocals full of angst and longing of a teenage variety. Cue NewDad, Ireland’s shoe-gazey group channeling sounds from acts established before their members were born. The Cure is the most obvious and well used example for a reason. Not that this is a bad thing! What music goes better with rain?

Not only the sound, but the poor tracking VCR lo-if visuals and no frills stage persona helped reinforce this idea of an 80’s indie throwback. The songs themselves aren’t breaking artistic new ground, but they do capture that emotion of youthful ennui and yearning that only this kind of slow burn guitar rock can.

As the set went on and the rain subsided and mist rolled in the crowd was reminded that Fuji Rock can weave a lot of different vibes. NewDad’s was a vivid one.

Band leader Julie Dawson said that playing Fuji Rock was the band’s biggest dream, and a dream come true. Hopefully they’ll be back to accompany some Fuji Rock drizzle in the future.