Something really special happened at WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesday on May 28, 2026, besides being on a Thursday due to a weather postponement. “Waterfront Thursday”? Nah. Didn’t have the same ring to it. Louisville band Modiste (moh-Deest) wowed the crowd with their electronic and synth pop sounds and the incredible singing of frontwoman Sydney Sleadd. She embraced her pop persona so much so, that her other band, Sydney Sleadd & The Swarm which is more of a garage surfer rock band, feels like it’s fronted by a completely different person. The crowd went wild, and rushed to the stage with estatic dancing, swept up in the pulse of the music provided by electronic artist Dennis Stein and guitarist and keyboardist Kyle Stallings. Add in some cool props and staging, a light show, and the fabulous outfits that the magnetic Sydney wore, and you have a real pop concert on your hands. In addition to their original “Lynchian synthpop” sounds, they also did the perfect cover of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy The Silence” to work people up into even more of a frenzy. It all felt like a moment where we witnessed the beginning of something really special, getting ready to blow the borders off of Louisville, and move out across the country to synth pop fans everywhere.
Modiste has two original singles out right now with more on the way. A full album will be released this summer on August 7 with a show at Zanzabar here in Louisville. The band spoke with me before their appearance at Waterfront Wednesday about how they got together and some gear talk, which I knew nothing about but felt confident someone listening did. It was nerdy and adorable and I loved their passion for what they are doing. I think you will too…