Last Wednesday all of my dreams came true when two guys from Los Angeles picked up their guitars and sang about heartbreak, social media, sweaters, and a dinner gone wrong, I’m talking, of course, about New New Girlfriend. They participated in Breaking Sound LA, a showcase of talent hosted by BreakRoom 86, a fun little venue in Koreatown. The best part? This was a full-band show. That’s right! Two guitars + a bassist + a drummer = an amazing time.

New New Girlfriend has been getting out there and playing live the past few months, and each show gets better and better. The energy that Griffin Burns and Kylen Deporter bring on stage is unparalleled. These two really know how to have fun, and they know how to make sure that the crowd is having fun right alongside them.

It was really special getting to see how they vibe with a full band. The bassist and drummer are two guys that they’ve worked with before, and it was fun to see the bassist participating in the joking banter between songs. I hope that they all get to perform together again.

Even though it was a shorter show, they didn’t get to play through all of their songs, it was enough to feel that rush of euphoria. And the way they sound with a full band just felt right. This is how their music is meant to be experienced. Live. Loud. Sweaty. In a secret room.

BreakRoom 86 in LA felt like a speakeasy. You enter through a vending machine and are in the dimly lit room. It was full of TV screens and old arcade games. The stage was tiny and in the corner. Crowded, but intimate. Like we’re all sharing the same secret. We’re all there for the same reason, to have an amazing time. I danced my heart out next to strangers in a way that only feels right at a concert.

Beyond being their first show in a long time that was with a full band, this show also marked the first time they played their latest song, UH-OH, live. It was everything that I was hoping for. The intro, “This is a song about carrots” — if you know, you know. The sound effects — supplied by a laptop next to the drummer. The snark — supplied by Kylen. It was perfect.

What this show really showed me is just how much this band is meant to be on stage, which I already knew, but this reaffirmed it. Their energy and joy is so infectious. It’s impossible to be in a bad mood after listening to them sing their hearts out. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning.