Words & Photos by Anthony Abu-Hanna
The Capitol Groove – Connecticut’s Indie Music Crown Jewel – kept the momentum going on Day 2 with performance by Bleachers, CAKE, Sammy Rae, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Fantastic Negrito, and more. Check out highlights from Day 2….
Day Two: Heat, Heart, and a Todd to Remember
Sunday brought a punishing heat that had fans seeking shade wherever they could find it. Despite the temperature, the excitement never dipped.
Spectre Jones kicked off the day with upbeat indie rock that carried a warm, breezy vibe. Their set brought out the sun worshippers, and their unexpected but well-executed cover of Elton John’s Tiny Dancer was a crowd-pleaser.
Kansas City’s The Greeting Committee followed. Lead singer Addie Sartino bounded onto the stage with high-energy confidence and didn’t let up. Their set, filled with songs like Is This It?, Pull It Together, and Hands Down, drew fans out from the trees and down to the rail. They even nailed a cover of Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Maps. If you’re not already listening to them, you should be.
Next came Fantastic Negrito, a musical force blending blues, soul, funk, and rock. Xavier Dphrepaulezz delivered one of the most compelling sets of the weekend. His guitar work, his voice, his presence—it all left a lasting impression. Channeling the spirits of James Brown and Prince, he brought something raw and exhilarating to the stage.
St. Paul & The Broken Bones came on next and turned the park into a soul sanctuary. Their eight-piece band poured every ounce of energy into their set. Frontman Paul Janeway was a blur of motion, preaching through songs like The Last Dance, Apollo, and Sanctify. Mid-set, they brought out Sammy Rae for a rousing duet of Moonage Daydream by David Bowie. They followed it up with an instrumental cover of I Got The… by Labi Siffre—the sample famously used by Eminem in My Name Is.
Speaking of Sammy Rae, her band was next and it felt like a homecoming. Connecticut’s own Sammy Rae & The Friends were electric. Sammy Rae Bowers brought her jazzy vocals, wild stage antics, and infectious energy. Her setlist was packed with fan favorites like Good Life, Denim Jacket, No Rulebook, and The Feeling. Covers of That’s All by Genesis and 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago elevated the fun, and the closing performance of Coming Home Song felt tailor-made for the Hartford crowd.
As the day cooled slightly, it was time for Cake. The Sacramento-based rockers didn’t hold back, especially when it came to commentary. John McCrea got the crowd roaring with his sharp wit and political edge. “There won’t be laws soon, so we can do whatever we want because fuck you,” he quipped to loud applause. Their set featured classics like Sheep Go to Heaven, The Distance, Stickshifts and Safety Belts, and Meanwhile, Rick James. At one point, McCrea joked about wanting to shoot hot dogs into the crowd with a cannon but being told by his manager he wasn’t licensed to distribute food. It was peak Cake.
Finally, Bleachers. Jack Antonoff knows how to put on a show, and this was no exception. He led the crowd through a wild ride, starting with Don’t Go Dark, Jesus is Dead, and Modern Girl. He reminisced about playing his first-ever show outside of New Jersey—at a frat house in Danbury—where the frat bros started destroying their own house mid-set, and the band responded by playing even harder.
The crowd also got a surprise: a debut of Blood Brothers, a new track from their upcoming album. Songs like Rollercoaster and I Miss Those Days had the entire park singing along.
Then there was Todd. No one really knows who he is, but Jack spotted him in the crowd and launched into a five-minute conversation. The result? A new festival motto: “Live free or die in Vermont, or get loose in Connecticut with Double D Todd.” Thanks for the memory, Todd.
Bleachers wrapped up their set with a run of showstoppers: Tiny Moves, How Dare You Want More, I Wanna Get Better, Don’t Take the Money, and Stop Making This Hurt. It was a cathartic, high-energy end to an unforgettable weekend.
Jack Antonoff’s final quote summed it all up:
“Connecticut has a Boston someone’s-gonna-beat-the-shit-out-of-me-in-an-expensive-neighborhood vibe.” And somehow, that made perfect sense.
The Capitol Groove isn’t just a festival. It’s a statement. Connecticut is ready for world-class live music and deserves more of it. If you missed this year’s event, don’t worry. Tickets are already on sale for next year—June 27 and 28, 2026: Get Your Tickets Here
We’ll see you back in Bushnell Park next summer.
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TheWaster.com | Hartford
7.2.25
