So let me start this off by stating something that may be obvious if you know me and/ or have seen some of my previous reviews / posts; I’m not what you would consider to be a “typical” fan of clubs despite actually enjoying much of the music they play. So when I heard that Oliver Tree was playing at this club called Nova in San Diego, it did cause me some pause and a need to really evaluate how much I wanted to go see him perform live. It ended up being a pretty short pause because I recalled how badly I was kicking myself in the ass for missing it the last time he came through, even knowing this show was going to be a bit more of a DJ set than his typical performances.
I did miss the opening act but caught Super Computer’s full set, and let me tell you—they fucking killed it. Imagine what the inside of a classic Bondi Blue iMac would sound like, and that’s basically Super Computer. Two dudes with computer monitors for heads, slamming out beats with a syncopated 90s/2000s visual throwback that hit every nostalgia button in my Y2K heart. They absolutely understood the assignment, which isn’t surprising considering they clearly have close ties to Oliver Tree. If you get the chance to see Super Computer live, I can’t recommend it enough.
I’ve been a fan of Oliver Tree for a while, so it’s no surprise the show was exactly what I wanted from his DJ set. He hit us with club-style remixes of his biggest songs, meme-worthy visuals, and enough midnight energy to put most people’s daytime pep to shame. It was exactly what you’d hope for, and it was absolutely amazing. All of the remixes were bangers, though, admittedly, he leaned pretty heavily on the hits—which got a bit repetitive at times—but they kept me going strong until 2 a.m.
Now, let’s talk about Nova. I’d heard some complaints about the crowd there from friends more familiar with the venue, but luckily, I didn’t experience any issues. That said, Nova isn’t getting off scot-free here. First off, I will never understand why anyone thinks it’s acceptable to charge over $6 for a regular 12oz can of Modelo, let alone double that. If you’re going to charge $12, at least hand me a tall can! Also, their register system? Total chaos. Apparently, you’re supposed to go back to the same exact bartender every time you order—absolutely wild in 2024. Overall, I wouldn’t say skip the venue because the sound and visuals were fantastic, but beware: the bar setup is a fuckin mess (or at least it was for me)
It’s just a phase…