Local Review: Festive People – Parade

Festive People
Parade

Self-Released
Street: 08.20
Festive People = Young the Giant + Imagine Dragons

With such positive energy and a powerful sound, it comes to me as a surprise that this was the first I had heard of Festive People. With their second five-song EP, Festive People have already racked up an impressive resume, winning the Velour Live Music Gallery’s Battle of the Bands, sharing the title with other famous acts to emerge from the area. It is no surprise, though, to see an uplifting pop rock group from Provo—they’re in the company of groups like Imagine Dragons and Neon Trees. After taking a listen to Parade, it is clear why they won that title. Festive People have a very motivating indie-rock sound with powerful vocals. Each and every song is uplifting in its lyrics and dance-inducing in the energetic instrumentals. Songs like “Give It Up,” with its opening plucky guitar, giddy synth and thumping rhythm are just begging for radio play. Since it is an EP, it is short, only clocking in at just less than 20 minutes, but we still get what seems like a full-length album’s worth of music and range of sound. Festive People even show they can slow things down with the acoustic-heavy “We All Fall Down.” Parade is a short yet fun EP that I can’t recommend enough to indie and radio-rock fans alike. This EP is made perfectly for the nice weather here in Salt Lake and is bound to get you moving. Parade is currently up for presale on iTunes, or you can check them out at festivepeoplemusic.com for more updates. –Connor Brady