We've been slacking a bit so let's catch up
Sam and I have been to quite a few shows since the Fountain Square show and there are plenty more to come. Plenty of bills we've attended have had opening acts that we could see where the train of thought was in booking but they weren't quite our cup of tea. Here are a fantastic bunch of examples where the case was exactly the opposite.
Sam saw this Illinois native turned Nashville transplant opening for the Seedy Seeds at Southgate House performing only with an accompanying cellist. Her voice alone could carry her songs from start to finish with her power and lyrics. I finally got to see her perform after many surprise cancellations at Mr. Pitiful's accompanied by a full band. We're also seeing her in the upcoming Midpoint Music Festival. Look out for "Catalyst" a song that's going to be on her upcoming album, I missed the chance to record the song but "Doomsday" is classic enough.
Sticking with the theme of Seedy Seeds openers and powerful voices, Washington D.C. natives Vandaveer are a duo to be reckoned by any fans of singer songwriters. I hardly doubt that the sound engineer has to work hard when recording their vocals because their control is out of this world. When we had a chance to catch them in the parlor of Southgate, they didn't even really need the speakers to fill the room with their harmonies.
Madeline Adams, known simply as her first name, is from Athens, Georgia. Writing songs since she was she was in her teens and performing at even the punkest of venues, there's even video of her opening for a Japanther set. She normally plays solo and can carry a tune with her soulful voice alone, if you can find her playing "Work My Hands To The Bone" you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. She stands about 5'4" but has the presence of a giant.
From the folk to the slightly hip hop influenced rock of Phantogram. I decided to go to this show on a whim because I thought the line up might have been a joke with an opener going by the name of Com Truise. I had come to discover he was on the same label as Mux Mool, another fantastic instrumental beat artist on the Ghostly International label. CHECK HIM OUT. We're here about Phantogram though, let's not forget that. They're not your average indie duo, I don't know how to adequately describe them other than see them if you can. I'm going to see them in Columbus in October.
I know so little about this band, I've never really even heard of them in the Cincinnati/NKY music scene. To me they sound like Muse/The Killers/The Black Keys with some boogie. They were so fresh to see.
I didn't have a good first impression of this band but after seeing them live I could feel how much they meant their performances. I wish I knew the title for this song but I'm sure they'll be around to record it and give it one to be known by all of the people who love their shows.
Another band that I feel kind of came out of nowhere, but they take me back a couple years when I would go to a basement show about once a week. I feel like if Bike Haus were still around these guys would have fit right in the sweaty craze of bodies in nonstop motion. This song isn't a good representation because it's a bit on the softer side but it's good none the less.
