Maybe it’s the cold, a busy life, or the world crumbling all around it, but when I have not been to a concert in a few weeks, I feel it. I am on edge, tired and stressed. When my concert-going ramped up in 2021, I could go a month or two before feeling that live music itch, but that window shrunk down to a front door peephole-sized pane. Even so, the artist and location of a show plays its part and Antarctigo Vespucci’s trip to Columbus on Thursday popped up on my radar the day the band announced it in late 2025 and if I had a physical calendar, Jan. 28, 2026 would have a few circles around it.
Antarctigo Vespucci is the side project of friends and musicians Jeff Rosenstock and Chris Farren. The story goes, as told by Farren on the now defunct “In Defense of Ska” podcast, that the first time the two met and spent time together, Farren traveled to New York and the two started hanging out and writing music. The two released the first Antarctigo Vespucci album nearly 12 years ago and over that time the New York native Rosenstock and Floridian Farren both landed in Southern California where the music duo replaced any regular Antarctigo releases with daily, close proximity, friendship.
Thursday night in Columbus, that friendship was on full display at Ace of Cups.
The two play power pop with catchy hooks and lyrics that sound fun with charged up guitar work, and high energy, but carry a bite. Outside of the band, Rosenstock and Farren produce albums for bands like Gladie and Suzie True and released around combined 12 LPs. That figure does not include the numerous EPs, side projects and Rosenstock’s television work creating the soundtrack for the former Cartoon Network show Craig of the Creek.
A quick aside, I cannot write from an unbiased perspective when I talk about Rosenstock and Farren. I shared more about why in a previous review when Rosenstock came to Columbus last year with his solo project and backing band Death Rosenstock, but anytime either Rosenstock or Farren are playing a show within three-to-four hours away from me, I am going to be there. In 2023, when the two were on separate tours for their latest albums, they combined tours for one night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. So, I bought tickets without knowing if anyone could go with me or a concrete plan to make it. Let’s just say my admiration runs deep.
Back to the matter at hand. The less than two-week long tour of the Midwest and East Coast stopped in the Old North Wednesday night. Along with Philadelphia indie rock band Golden Apples in support, what looked and felt like a sold out crowd came out despite the subzero temperatures to see a concert that was equal parts friend hangout and musical adventure.
Golden Apples, out of the aforementioned Philadelphia, started the early show at seven local time, which plays a part in the happenings early on in the show. Ace of Cups’ doors opened at six, soon after many probably finished their workday, and with the over a foot of snow and negative temperatures of the week, parking was at a premium. At concerts I am what you would call a “looky loo,” meaning anything and everything distracts me so I look around a bunch.
Seeing a Columbus police officer caught my eye. Since it is not a PromoWest venue, where security, metal detectors and no re-entry policy give the allusion of safety, it was out of place until Golden Apples lead singer and guitarist Russell Edling announced that anybody parked behind the venue had to move their vehicle immediately or else it was getting towed.
Apparently the reading ability of the audience was at a premium because not only did some attendees park in a lot clearly labeled for another business but others missed other vehicles altogether when cars blocked other illegally parked cars, making it impossible for them to leave.
After the few concertgoers walked what Edling called “the walk of shame,” Golden Apples went back into what was a fantastic set. The indie group does not play the same upbeat style of Antarctigo, but the variety helped make the night great.
If somebody put on a Golden Apples album and told me it was an early 90s indie group, I would not challenge it. Edling’s solo pre-2020 solo project that morphed into a four-piece band played melodically jangly, fuzzy, indie rock in all the best ways. Through their nearly 40-minute set, when the group was not warning people that their cars might not be there after the show, they played tracks from their 2025 “Shooting Star” release and a couple older tracks mixed in-between.
As a fan of between song banter, the group tackled with a lack of snow shoveling and how their own hometown is handling the same snow blanket and playing three million songs. They had a fun touch of whimsy and songs that get you to close your eyes and let them take you away.
Shortly after, Rosenstock and Farren came out with blue and white hair, respectively. If you have not seen any of their solo performances, Farren normally plays up a persona of being the best musician in the world through all of his perfect sets. With Antarctigo, it was an adjustment seeing Farren play with a full band, since for years he played alone and only recently added a drummer for recording and tours.
Rosenstock balances songs of frustration about life, capitalism and politics with what looks like the joy of performing music with his friends live. The songs of Antarctigo Vespucci come across as more personal reflection than outward annoyance but how Rosenstock acts on stage did not change for anyone who has watched him over the last 20 plus years of his music career.
The band went through 14 songs in around an hour. Most of the tracks feature both Farren and Rosenstock belting out lyrics, although if you listen to the albums, Farren’s voice comes through more than Rosenstock. That was different live and it sounds more like the duo singing. The two were not alone either, longtime Death Rosenstock and Bomb the Music Industry! guitarist/bassist John DeDominici played bass and Benny Horowitz on drums, who primarily plays for The Gaslight Anthem.
There was no new music to push or unreleased tracks to share Wednesday night. Before the two moved to California, the band was a way for Rosenstock and Farren to spend time together. Now that they live closer, the band has not released anything new for eight years. The crowd, who loudly sang each track, did not seem bothered because even hearing the songs from a full band is as rare as new recordings.
Over the last nearly five years, I have seen them play an Antarctigo song twice at two different concerts. So, hearing them play 14 in quick succession was more than I could have asked for. When a good pal and fellow concertgoer asked me if there were any songs I wanted to hear but didn’t, I had one but it was not a bummer. The entire experience was a moment to remember.
With the temperatures outside, Ace of Cups had the heat going, which Farren and DeDominici mentioned as they set up for their set, asking if they could even turn off the heat as it was blowing directly on the singer/guitarist. It did not seem like that happened, but it did not slow the show down. Farren still belted out his lines, went into the crowd a couple times (maybe to escape the vent) and the songs lost no intensity.
Rarely did the band play a song that was not fast and in your face. Fans especially responded to “Don’t Die in Yr Hometown” and “The Price is Right Theme Song.” The two-song encore, that they assured people was not planned at all and to not look at their set lists, started with the calmest track of the set, the introduction song from “Leavin’ La Vida Loca” titled “2 Days,” but brought things right back up when they went into “So Vivid!” to close out the night.
Between songs, someone yelled “yabba dabba doo,” which prompted a list of who the band likes and disliking people in positions of authority. At one point, between songs, they asked a fan onstage to talk through something that sounded traumatic for the person, and I supported them in their call to action to take care of your kids, but it was hard to understand most of the things said due to what seemed like the purchasing, and imbibing, of products from inside the venue’s bar.
The tour is now in Chicago, which I would have been at if they did not bless the music fans of Columbus. I will value the time for a while.
