Philly’s Rob Grote spent much of the past decade as lead singer and songwriter of the much-loved PA rock band The Districts. When that band took a hiatus in late 2022, Grote’s songwriting turned inward, with beautiful results, on the new solo project Super Infinity.
Named in part for a roadside motel chain (when you turn Super 8 on its side, it becomes Super Infinity, and once I heard Grote say that, I couldn’t unsee it in the band name or lodging destination), this project explores themes of loss and longing, of tender rage at an uncaring world, to a soundtrack of delicate and haunting atmospheres. Performing solo acoustic for The Key Studio Sessions this week, Grote showcases an array of Super Infinity cuts that channel kindred spirits like Big Thief, Sufjan Stevens, and the softer side of Kurt Vile.
We hear three songs from Super Infinity’s latest outing, In A Dream I Lived Before, as well as the crushing title track of the project’s 2023 debut EP Palace. The music is captivating enough in this format, but at his record release party this summer, Grote played half the set solo and half backed by a riveting band as well. We hear his World Cafe Live gig on October 24th for Philly Music Fest will unfold in similar fashion. Get tickets here, and watch Super Infinity’s Key Studio Session below.