GoldFish to play at Agave on Saturday 

GoldFish swam into the electronic music scene in the early 2000s in their native South Africa. They recorded their first album themselves and almost immediately started amassing a following.

Dominic Peters and David Poole met in college, where they had two options: study classical or jazz. They chose jazz, and that live jazz element is what makes the duo’s music beloved not just by electronic music aficionados, but by anybody who likes to dance. 

“From the start, we were drawn together by a love for music that was authentic and original, and it definitely set us on the path to find the GoldFish sound: Organic instruments performed with feeling, layered over electronic beats of all kinds,” Poole said of discovering what makes GoldFish unique.  

With a seven-year residency in Ibiza, Spain and performances at Red Rocks, Glastonbury, and Ultra Muis Festival in Miami among many others, these two have a lot of accomplishments under their belts.

“The outdoor lifestyle and travel are key in keeping us constantly inspired … Dance Music is constantly evolving so it really helps to have the same mentality. Touring and making a conscious effort to collaborate also exposes us to new influences from all over the world,” Poole said of their packed schedule.  

Support Local Journalism

Donate

One thing is for sure, these guys put on a show that will have you just as tired from dancing as skiing a powder day. Poole’s high-energy sax solos and Peters’ double bass and keyboard riffs make the listening experience a full-body dive. They’re not hiding behind their turntable; they’re out front with their audience. 

Dave and Dom moved to the United States to focus on their growing fan base here. When they’re not making music, they like to be outdoors, surfing where they now live in San Diego, California.  

“Everything you do in life forms part of who you are and that 100% translates to music. Getting out in nature be it on a bike or a board definitely clears your mind to receive new inspirations and ideas. Sometimes your creative mind can be too cluttered until you get out there and be in the moment,” Peters said of their love for the outdoors. 

Dom and David like snow, too. Their show at Agave on Feb. 24 is part of their Snow Tour with stops from Aspen to France. GoldFish Man, their human-sized goldfish cheerleader, has been tagging along. Maybe he’ll make an appearance on Vail Mountain.  

“You never know where he may show his crazy smiling face,” Dave said. 

With influences like Fatboy Slim, Moby, and jazz greats like John Coltrane, early sound mixers and innovators, GoldFish packs in a little bit of everything for everybody.  

They released their most recent album, “If Summer Was a Sound,” in December of last year. It features a diverse set of musicians from around the world, some of whom are not strangers to Vail, like Xavier Rudd.  

“We always try to find artists with unique voices and approaches, the aim is to always try and create something fresh and new. Mixing our vibe with other artists really stirs the collective melting pot and lets us discover new sides of GoldFish,” Peters said.  

While Rudd is a legend in Australia, GoldFish has also collaborated with up-and-comers like Laszewo in the song “When I’m Alone,” or Spanish singer and songwriter LUISAH in “La Playa,” and exciting acts closer to where it all began in Cape Town. 

 “If Summer Was a Sound” is packed with addictive beats and transportive chord progressions. It feels like an escape to warmer climates. If summer was a sound, this would be it.  

“An album for us is a time capsule that we put together from our shared musical experiences and where we were as humans in that particular time,” Peters said.  

The shared musical experience is what makes their live shows so special. If the album feels like all your friends in one place under the sun, waves hitting the sand, not too unlike a bluebird day out on the snow, then their shows just bring that energy to a night of dancing.  

“Agave is an awesome venue as you can interact with almost everyone in the room, on top of that the team there are legends so it’s great to be returning,” Peters said of their show around the corner.  

So you can expect a good time if you manage to snag one of the last tickets to the show on Saturday. 

“Performing for our fans is what constantly pushes us to new levels. The energy at GoldFish shows definitely influences how we experience our own music,” Peters said.