(Writer/Photos: Tristyn Grover)

On the evening of Valentines Day, electronic and art pop genius Robert DeLong made his eagerly awaited return to the Capital Region at Jupiter Hall in Albany, NY. Armed with lights, many forms of percussion, and game controllers of all kinds, this one-man juggernaut of a band provided a plethora of dancy tunes and atmosphere that could rival an acid trip.

Robert DeLong first came to the Capital Region, and the east coast in general, in 2012 for the much beloved Pearlpalooza and as his setup and music has changed and progressed, even bringing on touring musician Adam Phelps to his shows , his stage presence and performance still remains unparalleled and draws in an audience of all different kinds of people. Anyone who has never heard of him by name or solely recognizes songs played on rotation by alternative radio stations and quickly becomes infatuated with his energy and musical prowess as they fall down the rabbit hole of trippy effects flashing around him.

Even moving past his performance, I was able to speak to him briefly to get a signed poster and snag a quick selfie with my shaky hand and I immediately picked up on the passion in his voice on what he does. Throughout the performance itself, DeLong emphasized a lot on loving and enjoying being surrounded by others even on days other than Valentine’s Day. His music inspires that hope.

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