Fire alarms, unruly crowd surfers and COVID-19 scares kicked off Origami Angel’s first headline tour on Oct. 14.

The bubblegrunge two-piece consists of Washington, D.C., locals Ryland Heagey (guitar and vocals) and Pat Doherty (drums). Heagey and Doherty met in 2015, and the two released their first EP “Quiet Hours” in 2017. In 2019, Origami Angel released their debut album “Somewhere City,” followed by their latest release “GAMI GANG” in 2021. At just five years old, Origami Angel have established themselves well into the bubblegrunge scene. 

Union Stage, a small live music venue in Washington, D.C., hosted the kickoff performance of Origami Angel’s first headline tour. At first, Union Stage seems like your typical hole-in-the-wall bar, but the “LIVE MUSIC” marquee and concrete stairs redirect the attention of all who enter to the basement; this is where the magic happens. Visitors are greeted by low-lighting, dark walls covered in stickers and signatures from previous performers, and a small, but comfortable stage. 

The one drawback, however, is the nonexistent barricade between stage and show-goer. While this immerses attendees in their concert experience and allows them to interact with artists, you cannot help but worry about the safety and comfort of the performers. 

If the lack of barriers was a concern for performers, you never would have been able to tell by the opening acts. Before Origami Angel took the stage, openers Insignificant Other and Pool Kids fired up the crowd with energetic performances. Between the lead singer’s extravagant, doll-inspired outfit and the band’s unbridled chemistry, Insignificant Other set high expectations for their successors. Pool Kids kept that contagious energy going throughout their set with hits from their self-titled release, “Pool Kids.” 

By the time the headliners went on, the crowd’s energy was explosive to the point of overwhelming. Excessive crowd surfing and the dreaded mosh pit threatened the safety of attendees and performers alike. Some overly enthusiastic audience members even climbed up on stage during performances. Interacting with artists is a common aspect of live shows, but disrespecting the artists’ space and boundaries is intrusive. Frankly, the crowd just overloaded the cramped venue. 

Despite the chaos, Origami Angel opened with an unforgettable rendition of “24 Hour Drive-Thru,” one of the top hits from their album “Somewhere City.” The track’s quick-paced, nostalgic lyrics and upbeat melody started the show off strong. However, the duo’s personability fell short on opening night. 

Heagey’s stage presence was bogged down by a cold, which he assured the audience was not COVID-19. Doherty remained silent — and shoeless — for the set, save for his warning call to Heagey to stop the show for the offset fire alarms. Luckily, Heagey managed to control the crowd’s anxiety until the panic subsided and the show trudged on. 

What Origami Angel lacked in enthusiasm they made up for in talent, but the setlist slashed their opportunity to show off their range. The two-piece performed a wide variety of their discography, even throwing a couple of recent releases into the mix. Tracks like “Dr. Fondoom,” “Caught in the Moment” and “Möbius Chicken Strip” from their latest album “GAMI GANG” highlighted the band’s versatility and musical prowess. Instead, Origami Angel opted for the flat and static “Bossa Nova Corps” and “Footloose Cannonball Brothers” from their sophomore album. While they gave the show their all, their song selection could have been stronger. 

Origami Angel’s set was also noticeably shortened. Typically, headliners perform anywhere from one and a half to two hours, depending on a variety of factors. Perhaps this was due to Heagey’s ill-timed cold, the frenzy of the fire alarms or venue time restrictions, but the duo performed for just one hour. Their talents could have been better showcased by a longer, more diverse set. 

After the closing track, Origami Angel did reappear for a brief encore, which was just as underwhelming as the rest of the performance. Their lackluster performance just did not reflect the animated energy of their musical identity. Hopefully, for the sake of Origami Angel and their fans, this mediocre and messy show does not set the tone for the remainder of their tour. 

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