What better way to celebrate the day of love than by doing what you love, with the people you love… under a wash of black eyeliner and cathedral-level reverb?
Valentine’s Day for us was a luminous pilgrimage north to Ithaca! Our guitars and music equipment in the trunk, vegan snacks on the brain, and that anticipatory hum that only a show can generate.
The Cinematic Drive
The drive up felt orchestrated.
A blue sky stretched endlessly above us, punctuated by white, sculptural clouds that looked like it was placed by a meticulous production designer. Bright orange sunlight streamed through the trees in deliberate beams, then later retreated playfully behind the mountain tops as if playing hide-and-seek with the horizon. There’s something about winter light in upstate New York that’s very mystical.
Thirty minutes from the venue, Paolo asked me to find a vegan spot to check out. I found a few places and was excited to head over there however, touring instincts kicked in and we decided to head straight to the venue for efficiency and just let the universe provide.
And it did!
We parked, looked up, and there was a sign that said: TACOS.
If you’ve toured a few many times before, you develop what behavioral scientists might call “pattern recognition optimism” which is the knowing that where there are tacos, there are vegan options.
Whew! We were right! Yay!
Bonus treat: On our short walk to get tacos we passed by a pie shop called: Mama Said, offering a warm savory vegan knish! The perfect prelude before the vegan tacos at Tacos CDMX: tofu chorizo, lentils, beans, onions, cilantro, finished with a mild avocado dressing. We ordered extra for post-show refueling!
(Writing about the food is inspiring me to write an upcoming post about vegan life on tour! The thrill and joy of how accessible, flavorful, and empowering plant-based travel truly is. The road overflows with incredible options, vegan finds, and delicious discoveries. I’m excited to share everything we’ve uncovered along the way.)
But back to our Goth Valentine’s night.
Soundcheck: The Anticipation
We arrived, set up, and began soundcheck.
There is a precise moment during soundcheck when excitement shifts from abstract to embodied. When you hear your own songs projected back at you through a room, balanced and powerful, it activates something inside i would probably describe as: a joyful roaring fire that’s excited to burn..? (Something like that.)
The sound engineering was impeccable. Shout out to Ben for dialing in the perfect equilibrium between guitars, vocals, and those blasting beats that make Turbo Goth what it is. When the sound is right, the performance transforms into a transcendent experience.
We set up the merch table, the doors opened, and DJ Rob Haze began spinning… all… our… favorite… goth… songs.
The venue glowed in dark haze and moody light, filling quickly with music lovers dressed in midnight hues, black-clad romantics and devoted night-dwellers drawn instinctively to the dance floor. Fog curled softly through the room as silhouettes moved in rhythm.
And then, almost like a heartbeat quickening, the room was packed and it was our turn to play.
The Show: Collective Euphoria
The show was electric.
The sound enveloped the room, thick and immersive. Fog unfurled across the stage in soft, swirling waves. Colored lights cut through the haze in luminous beams transforming the room into something cinematic and otherworldly. We all moved through the mist like living poetry.
The crowd danced to our music as if they’d known our songs for years! It was amazing to feel the connection. A phenomenon psychologists describe as emotional contagion. Energy is mirrored and movement becomes communal and the boundary between performer and audience dissolves.
That’s the magic of goth night its like a nostalgic ritual.
Souvenirs and Artifacts
After the show, we had sold out all of our medium and large T-shirts!
Right now, our merch is extra special: LIMITED EDITION, HAND DRAWN “TURBO GOTH” BAND SHIRTS.
These shirts are actually, factually artifacts from this era of the band!
I might make a few more medium and large shirts, but who knows how long we will have them available!
(You may want to grab one at the next show while they’re still available!)
You can also order at:
[www.turbogoth.com/merch](http://www.turbogoth.com/merch)
The Night Expands
DJ Law carried the momentum forward, spinning more of the tracks that live in our bloodstream. And we danced and danced and danced. Turbo Goth connected with so many beautiful souls that night and shared an unforgettable time with everyone in the room. A wonderful night of music, movement, and connection that lingered long after the last note.
Before heading back to New York City, Paolo managed to catch a Chinese restaurant just before closing. Vegan General Tso’s. Mapo tofu. I still had tacos in reserve. Refueled and glowing, we began the voyage home. Maybe tired in body, but definitely electrified in spirit.
Gratitude and What’s Next
Thank you to Nocturnal Cafe, Practice.At and Goth Night for hosting Turbo Goth so beautifully. We felt valued. We felt heard. We felt loved.
And now, back in New York, we’re already preparing for the next show:
February 19 at Arlene’s Grocery. Get your tickets before they sell out!
Because if Ithaca taught us anything, it’s this:
Love is loud.
Love is tofu chorizo at midnight.
Love is a room full of strangers moving like they’ve always known each other.
And we are ready to do it again!
See you on Thursday!
Love, Sarah and Paolo
<3 TURBO GOTH 4-EVER