Daisy the Great (DTG) rocked the stage at the Fillmore Auditorium on March 18, in support of The Vaccines and The Kooks in their Denver pit stop during their North American tour to give us a night of indie-rock and dancing. 

Starting promptly at 7 p.m., Daisy the Great came onto stage, starting with “Glitter,” a well-known song that was originally released on their deluxe album, “All You Need Is Time” in 2022, but was then remixed and re-released as “Glitter 2” on their recent EP, “Tough Kid.” 

DTG consists of singers Kelley Dugan and Mina Walker, who were joined at the Fillmore by Bernardo Ochoa on guitar and Matti Dunietz on drums. While DTG is on the road as a four-piece, Brie Archer (backup vocals) and Matt Lau (bass and guitar) normally make up the rest of the crew. 

In a pre-show interview, Dugan spoke on the reasons behind this re-release. “We kind of have this habit of doing new versions of songs we’ve already put out which is really exciting because it allows us to give that song a new expression,” said Dugan. 

By releasing a second version of it on the Tough Kid EP, they were “able to access that lonelier, sleepier feeling” that wasn’t quite reflected in the first version released. 

Arguably the most well-known song of theirs, “The Record Player Song” was their second hit of the night, exciting the crowd with the perfect harmonies between Dugan and Walker. 

“The Record Player Song” has been a part of the DTG story since the beginning. Having grown up in musical homes, Dugan and Walker connected through a group project while studying Acting at NYU, which led to an exchange of songs, and eventually the creation of DTG. Dugan started to write the song at the beginning of college. 

“I was kind of shy about writing at that time and I didn’t feel like I was ready to finish the song,” explained Dugan. 

After some self-discovery, Dugan was able to finish the song two years later and then taught it to Walker shortly after. “The Record Player Song” served as a bridge to other pieces of theirs for many listeners today.  

“I really just feel grateful for it having the life it has had,” said Dugan. 

On brand with the rest of the DTG story, “The Record Player Song” was also remixed and re-released as a single with AJR. 

“When we collab with people, it gives us the opportunity to restate something about that song or access a little bit of their world and let someone else influence the meaning of the song,” said Dugan. 

After the energy of the night was off to a great start, DTG graced the audience with three unreleased songs, where Ochoa showed off his guitar skills with a smile on his face. 

“We haven’t recorded them yet but we’ll post on Instagram when stuff is coming out, but just be patient,” said Walking to the audience. DTG plans to record and release their new music after the tour wraps up. “It’s exciting to see songs that aren’t out yet and how people are reacting to them,” said Walker. 

The third unreleased song called “Dock” was about going on a walk, according to Dugan. Throughout the set, their bodies moved in sync with the melody, emanating that rock ‘n roll feeling they were aiming for. 

“I think we want our music to make people feel more connected to themselves and more connected to the people they care about,” said Dugan. 

In between songs, Dugan and Walker engaged with the crowd, saying “I love you back” to a compassionate audience member. 

Another song brought to stage was called “Liar,” from the album “All You Need is Time,” which featured more endearing interactions with each other and an eerie harmony from the lead singers. 

After thanking the Kooks and the Vaccines, Dugan switched to the keyboard and they ended with “Time Machine,” a song about the end of the world. Similar to “Glitter,” this song was originally released on the “All you need is time” album but then remixed with illuminati hotties as “Time Machine 2” on the Tough Kid EP. 

Following Daisy the Great’s electrifying performance, The Vaccines took the stage with a burst of energy that ignited the crowd. The British boy band vibes were palpable as lead singer Justin Young moved around the stage with such a dynamic presence. Their performance was characterized by loud, rock-infused anthems, including standout tracks like “Headphones Baby” and “Let’s Jump off the Top” from their album “Back in Love City.” The Vaccines delivered a theatrical show, featuring selections from their 2024 album “Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations,” which added fresh energy to the evening’s lineup.

Walker spoke on their touring experience with The Kooks and The Vaccines so far, “It’s fun to tour with these bands that were a part of culture when we were growing up,” said Walker. 

As anticipation reached its peak, The Kooks took the stage to celebrate their 15-year anniversary. Lead singer Luke Pritchard with the crowd, drawing them into the celebration with lively gestures and dance moves. The auditorium pulsated with energy as the band played through their album in order, keeping the audience dancing throughout.

Memorable moments included the infectious call-and-response interaction during “Bad Habit” and the rockin’ atmosphere during “She Moves In Her Own Way,” where the entire venue was entranced by the lyrics and energy. 

As the show went on, it was apparent that DTG made the right decision to match the other bands’ energy through such an energetic set. 

“We knew that the Kooks and Vaccines would be high-energy, rock-sounding music. Our music kind of goes in a lot of directions, so we made a very energetic rock set for this tour and it’s been so fun to play,” said Walker.   

The combination of the three indie-rock bands made it a night to remember at the Fillmore. DTG will be headlining five shows at the end of their tour as they head home. For more information and updates on their upcoming shows, follow them on Instagram.