Slimdan Will Solve Your Problems

I first heard of Slimdan at the end of last summer when he was announced as the opener for Remi Wolf’s Big Ideas tour. Like any other dedicated concert-goer, I had every intention of seeing his set. But fate (the MTA), had other plans for me and I missed it. This Original Sin did not stop me from checking out Slim’s debut album, Second Dinner, and by the end of 2024, I was fully obsessed. The album became one of my favorites of the year and I ended up featuring him in StereoStack’s first-ever appearance in December. So, when Slim (née Danny Silberstein) announced his solo tour, I not only knew I needed to go, I knew I needed to be early. I was not. But, I did manage to catch the full set, discovering that the genuine and natural storytelling that I had previously written about and had come to associate with Slimdan, was even more potent in person.

If you have never been to Purgatory in Brooklyn, I encourage you to check out the queer-owned bar and venue on the Bushwick/Ridgewood border immediately. The two-story location is a fever dream, with the downstairs full of rooms reminiscent of a David Lynch film, and the upstairs built to accommodate performances ranging from punk-rock shows to German slam poetry. (*Insert soft, introspective snaps here*)

Purgatory also ended up being the perfect venue for Slimdan’s Creative Director, Mimi Van Bouchautte, to show off her skills. From the footage of Silberstein arriving home and ringing his doorbell, to the cameras strapped to the mic stands providing a live feed of the musicians, Bouchautte masterfully re-created the essence of Silberstein’s hilarious and personal album through her production design. Additionally, Bouchautte and Silberstein created an animation for the final track on Second Dinner, “Chinchilla Story.” Less of a song and more of a voice note, “Chinchilla Story” recounts a break-up derailed by a pet chinchilla and Silberstein’s involvement in helping his friend through it. It’s a perfect way to end the album — a great story that not only encapsulates the personality of the rest of the tracks, but Silberstein’s loyalty to his friends (an ever-present theme through the LP). Needless to say, it is a must-have on tour. Bouchautte and Silberstein’s clever video of the story played before the encore, only solidifying their commitment to giving each performance a fully conceptualized narrative, no matter the size of the venues they are playing.

Silberstein and his team’s desire to create a great show didn’t stop at production design. While the quintet could have just let their music speak for itself, they instead chose to charm the crowd through conversation that broke down the invisible barrier between performer and audience — creating a communal experience we could all enjoy together. At one point, Silberstein even hyped up his supposedly very single drummer, in the hopes of getting his band-mate a date (someone beat me to it). Pedro Calloni, one of the three other musicians playing with Silberstein (and my drummer crush), told me that their easy-going nature probably transferred well because of how fun it has been to change up their day-to-day routine. Calloni is a seasoned audio mixer, and Silberstein himself is a songwriter, with countless collaborators including Carly Rae Jepsen and Eras Tour opener, Gayle. Calloni says that going on tour and getting the chance to play their own music for fans in smaller spaces, almost feels like vacation and as an audience member, I can attest that you certainly feel transported by this mindset. This ethos only continued after the show was over, with Slimdan and his opener, Blond in Car, hanging by the merch table to talk to anyone who stopped by. I happily waited for at least twenty minutes as Slim made sure he got the name of and took the time to hear from every fan greeting him. Not only did I leave with a great t-shirt, I left feeling fulfilled and seen as a fan — something that in the age of streaming and social media, can feel far and few between.

All of this to say, if you’re looking for a great feel-good album, check out Second Dinner. And if you want to continue those good vibes into a three-dimensional experience, I cannot recommend going to see Slimdan and his wonderful team on tour more. You can explore some of my favorite Slimdan songs below, and the Slimdan: Live From Venues That Will Hopefully Sell Out tour plays through February 28th.