With everything going on in the world today, it’s no surprise that nostalgiacore is trending. People are yearning for a time when things seemed simpler and movies had soundtracks that defined a generation. Trip pop duo After (Justine Dorsey and Graham Epstein) is bringing back that familiar sound with their latest EP and tour.
On Wednesday, as a sold-out crowd gathered inside Boston’s intimate Brighton Music Hall, it felt like everyone had collectively stepped back into one of those soundtracks, both literally and figuratively. The preshow soundtrack was the ultimate Y2K playlist, with staples like Incubus’s “Drive” and Liz Phair’s “Why Can’t I?”
Fresh off the release of their debut EP, House of Devotion, Silverdeer (Nika Fazeli and Halsey Bousquet) kept the nostalgia going with an indie-pop sound reminiscent of The Breeders. The tour marked the band’s first tour yet, but by their performance, you’d never know it. Their set earned cheers usually reserved for a headliner, and they were much deserved.
As Silverdeer concluded their set, the crew quickly transformed the stage for After. Downstage, a sheer curtain hung as a canvas for projected visuals unique to each song on the setlist.
With their nostalgic sound and stage presence, you might be surprised to know that After only released their debut single in 2023. Three years later, the band is on their headlining tour supporting their debut album, Take Me to Sunrise. The setlist included the record almost in its entirety, including the tour’s namesake “Fell Asleep in the Sun.” Fans were also excited to hear some fan favorites, including “Outbound” and “Deep Diving.” Like their discography, the set ranged in pace and feeling. Following “Baroque,” Justine said, “That’s enough doom and gloom for a moment…I suppose,” before performing “300 Dreams.”
Graham held it down at the guitar and computer, while Justine spent most of the show moving around the stage and engaging with fans. The crowd clearly appreciated these moments, responding with enthusiastic cheers and remaining fully immersed in the experience, with barely a phone in sight. As the show came to a close, Justine complimented the crowd on this and expressed her gratitude for “such an incredible night.”
In a 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, Justine and Graham explained that the goal with her music is “to make you miss a memory you never had.” As Boston filed out into the cold Boston night, they were already missing the memory they just created.
Keep up with After here.
Amelia Cordischi, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Juice Box Press, is an accomplished digital marketing professional with over a decade of experience in media and communications. Her work has been featured in notable publications, including The Boston Globe. A communications graduate of Simmons University in Boston, Amelia served as manager of Simmons College Radio (“The Shark”), where she also launched and co-hosted her radio show, The Find.
In addition to her editorial work, Amelia is an established freelance photographer, with bylines in Blended Magazine and CelebMix, capturing artists and cultural moments across the music and media landscape. Her career began at WCVB-TV’s Chronicle, the ABC affiliate in Boston, where she gained firsthand experience in broadcast journalism and storytelling.
When she’s not taking photos from the photo pit, interviewing emerging artists, or crafting the next Juice Box Press feature, Amelia can be found thrifting and exploring the world of sustainable fashion.