BØRNS charms The Independent after going from opener to last-second headliner

BØRNS with Handsome Ghost //
The Independent – San Francisco
March 12th, 2015 //

Sometimes it’s about being in the right place at the right time. For BØRNS, that was the case on Thursday night when New York City indie-pop act MisterWives was expected to headline The Independent.

But with an illness in the band forcing MisterWives to cancel their set, it was BØRNS who was quickly elevated from opening act to the show’s headliner. The Independent did their best to rectify the situation, making the show free for all guests to attend via RSVP and saying that it will honor any tickets that were bought when MisterWives return to SF for their rescheduled show in June.

Nevertheless, the show went on and still sold out in a blink of an eye. There were many, in fact, who had bought tickets to the original show because they wanted to see BØRNS just as much as they wanted to see MisterWives.

Inside the venue, nobody complained about MisterWives’ late scratch. Instead, they gave their full attention to Handsome Ghost, who got the audience warmed up with an acoustic guitar and a variety of electronic arrangements.

By the time BØRNS, Michigan native and current LA transplant Garrett Borns, arrived onstage with his four other bandmates, the crowd was ready to let loose — and let loose they most certainly did as he opened with his hit single “10,000 Emerald Pools” off his 2014 EP Candy. It’s an infectious song that everyone has come to love over the last several months, and coupled with BØRNS’ charismatic stage presence, the room immediately came to life.

Already signed to Interscope Records and on several “Artists to Watch in 2015” lists, BØRNS has yet to release a full-length album. And for that very reason, his show ended up being relatively short. But as many who were there can attest to, it never lacked excitement.

Setlist:
10,000 Emerald Pools
Seeing Stars
Broke
Past Lives
Benny and the Jets (Elton John cover)
The One
American Money
It’s My Party (cover)
Electric Love