St. Lucia is a Brooklyn-based indie rock group, laden with electronic and dance elements. Their music even has some world aspects to it, influenced by lead vocalist Jean-Philip Grobler’s South African roots. The quintet stopped in Columbia to play an energetic set, which consisted of old classics from their first album, _When the Night_, as well as their most recent album, _Matter_.

When the group took the stage on Monday night, the longer they played, the less it felt like a Monday. Grobler made it his goal to make that loathsome weekday feel like a Saturday night. According to Grobler, every day on the tour is a Saturday for them, and I have to say, that night didn’t feel even remotely similar to a typical Monday night.

As soon as the electro-indie rockers started their set with the pulsing, rhythmic synths of “Rescue Me,” I knew everyone (myself included) was in for a treat. This was my third time seeing St. Lucia, so in all transparency, I wasn’t expecting anything much different from the last time I saw them, but they surely proved me wrong.

I’m not saying the band performed badly the first two times I saw them, but they were the opening band. Seeing a headlining set from them for the first time showed me that they had mastered their art of performing. There wasn’t a dull moment throughout the entire 90-minute set. Grobler constantly engaged the crowd.

During “Love Somebody,” Grobler came down into the crowd to give the show a more intimate feeling, adventuring throughout the pit to see all the fans who came to the show. This was definitely one of the highlights, because it showed that he wanted to make the show unique. He also wanted the crowd to feel like they were a part of the show, rather than distant spectators.

Not only was the music fantastic, but the light show was magnificent as well. Bright, colorful lights shone throughout the concert, usually in sync with the music. For example, during “Home,” the beginning synth pattern was played in syncopation with the lights, displaying vivid red and blue colors in accordance with the rhythm of the synth pattern.

The energy of the crowd was palpable. The crowd always seemed to be dancing, especially during more well-known songs such as “Dancing On Glass” and “Elevate.” Even during less popular songs, like “Physical,” Grobler had the crowd jumping up and down, so they could feel the intense energy and the positive atmosphere.

Overall, St. Lucia put on a fantastic performance. This was hands-down one of the best concerts I’ve seen in Columbia. I’ve always been a fan of the band, but seeing a headlining set from them has made me gain more respect for them and become a bigger fan. If they happen to return to Columbia, I highly recommend going to check out their show. I guarantee you’ll have a fun time.