It was still early and the crowd was sparse, though their music had no trouble compelling patrons to head towards the front of the stage as they proceeded to unleash their intoxicating blend of rock. The trio was equal parts alternative and experimental, taking cues from artists like Radiohead and Muse (whom they cite as influences) but gave the music their own flare. They frequently mixed intricate moments with raw power, a nice soupy quality permeating their sound that contributed significantly to the layers of the music. And while Josh Watkins routinely handled the lead vocals, he occasionally ceded that position to drummer Jason Davis, who sounded great in his own right, and that allowed Watkins to cut loose a little more on his guitar.
Apart from playing several cuts from The Robot Bonfire, they even treated onlookers to some newer material, all of which did the job of entrancing the listener.
Second up this night was Royal Sons, who, based on social media posts promoting the show, were delighted to be making their debut at Trees. The veteran musicians that comprise the group may have set foot on that stage numerous times over the years, but never with this project, and they made it look like their reputation hinged on how well this one performance went.
They had the audience buzzing, comments that were overheard ranging from people saying Blake Parish was one of the best singers they had heard in a long time to mentioning how THAT was rock ‘n’ roll. Indeed, it was. The rhythm section was exceptionally heavy and undoubtedly in charge this night, the deep, ground shaking beats that Javier Garza hammered out being devastating. Marcus Gonzales’ work on the bass further ensured they packed a punch; the pair being crucial to the pure, unbridled rock vibe that defined their time on stage. Brash and dangerous sounding, a certain amount of sex even oozed from it. So, the essential necessities of rock ‘n’ roll.
Seemingly possessed by the mightiest of spirits of rock ‘n’ roll, Parish sang and howled like a madman as he strode about the stage. They had little space to work with due to all of the gear that was back lined, which at times seemed like a hindrance – as they could have let loose so much more if they had had a bit more room – though was also conducive of what they were doing. There were some near collisions whenever guitarists Chad Beck and Johnny McConlogue left their posts, racing and thrashing about, though those close quarters also forced them to be as tight-knit as they could possibly be, the resulting chemistry being stupendous.
I had only caught Royal Sons once before, and that show was enjoyable, but this night they were mind-blowing. On several occasions Parish pointed out they would have a record coming out relatively soon. Definitely keep your eyes peeled for that.
Dead Flowers had been charged with being the main support band for what was a totally different experience for them.
For starters, as singer and guitarist Corey Howe pointed out early on, they were sober, even apologizing for that. “We usually go on later than this…” he remarked. He even censored himself at one point as they bantered with the crowd of a few hundred people, Howe quickly inserting the expletives he should have said, passing it off as a side effect of too little alcohol.
The jokes were flying this night, their set being equal parts comedy routine and rip-roaring performance as they knocked out a slew of new songs they had recently finished laying down in the studio. It hasn’t even been a full year since their last record dropped.
Based on the preview set this night their next release may well wind up outdoing the three that have preceded it. A couple of the songs sounded quite capable of giving any radio hit a serious run for its money; and while these songs were new, the quartet looked like they had been performing them for years now, never once appearing uncertain or skeptical as most artists do when testing out new material.
It had been far too long since I had last caught a Dead Flowers gig. A couple years at least, during which time they’ve only further perfected their chops as performers and entertainers. Howe, Evan Winston Johnson, Vince Tuley and James Brock raised the bar and set it impeccably high, to the point even SouthFM was going to have their work cut out for them in topping it.
A few days prior to the show, with a hashtag of “no secrets”, SouthFM posted the set list for what this night would hold. For those who saw it, nothing was ruined. If anything, it added to the excitement. It let everyone know precisely what to expect – at least to an extent – with eight cuts from Swallowing the Pill having been selected, while also boasting the most extensive glimpse yet of new material from the forthcoming Day of the Rose.
With their 11:32 start time approaching, Trees was packed, dispelling fears that perhaps people wouldn’t show up in the droves that had been hoped. The band’s intro that proceeded to play over the PA system beckoned everyone closer to the stage, the fans settling in for the religious experience that was about to unfold.
It looked to be a heavy set, something “Killing Me” confirmed as that old favorite set things into motion. It was immediately evident how much the musicians have tightened up over the past year, which is absolutely remarkable considering that they haven’t had many opportunities in front of a crowd to push them to develop their stage chemistry.
That first show back they were stiff and rigid. Not so this night. They looked like their main focus was remembering how this thing was supposed to go and attempting to make it happen at that show in April 2017. This night it all flowed smoothly, the confidence the five musicians exuded making it evident that it was all back to being second nature for them.
Dave Shafer wasted no time in propping a foot up on the monitor in front of him and headbanging for the majority of that number, just being as assertive as possible. Behavior that would persist throughout their time on stage.
That blistering yet emotive rocker set the tone for the show. SouthFM was there to prove something. Nearly all of the bands from that era of Dallas music have since passed the torch on to the next generation(s), they themselves being reduced to memory. SouthFM wanted to remind everyone of just how truly great those times were. It’s easy to romanticize the past and build it up as being better than it was. For the memories and reality of something to often conflict and contradict one another. Together as SouthFM they aimed to prove none of that was accurate in this instance. That all of those nights spent at various clubs were just as amazing and magical as they’re remembered being, and they were going to achieve that by delivering the same caliber of show as back then. One that was nostalgic but also fully embraced a new age.
The segues helped in making this show so mesmerizing. The transitions were subtle as the songs bled into one another, though crucial to the way it all played out, never allowing for any downtime and forcing Paco Estrada, Chad Abbott, Cody Sowell, Andrew Pederson and Shafer to be the best performers they could possibly be.
A couple more classics followed, “Push Me Away” solidifying things even further. That applied not only to the hold the music had over the spectators but also the musicians who coalesced a little more; Estrada giving an exceptionally visceral and emotional performance as he belted out the words. “If we push ourselves too far, we might just pull apart!”
Estrada certainly hasn’t been absent from the stage, having a few other irons in the fire, though the air that surrounded him was completely different than with those other bands. He was loving stepping back into the role of being just a frontman, which allowed him to finesse the audience, and you could tell he was relishing revisiting those songs and getting to play them for so many loyal supporters who felt the same kind of attachment to them as he did when he first penned them.
A handful of songs, such as “Habit”, felt as if they had been tweaked slightly, becoming more behooving of this new incarnation of the band. Something about them felt and sounded different, though it didn’t stray too far from the version beloved by so many, either. Estrada hammered that home by leaving off the final two words of the track, giving it a new meaning and feeling like he was confessing his current thoughts about where he is in life. “It’s taken me too long to find my way.”
The first couple of new songs were paired together, “Wildfires” and “Snowflake” bolstering the already intense dynamics. It was evident they were new ones. The band isn’t trying to recreate anything they did on Swallowing the Pill (or even Drama Kids), instead embracing the new creative forces that are in the band and pursuing a new direction that felt like the expected evolutionary step. Albeit one with a few twists.
The former of those two had a slight progressive rock quality to it, Sowell’s parts on the guitar being rather intricate. It was definitely his style; and a new form of energetic passion arose from the quintet as they tore through those new offerings. It was the excitement of testing out the new stuff, which seemed well received by the fans.
As for “Snowflake”, despite what the title may suggest, it was a wall of sound. Arguably their most aggressive song of the night, it also featured some striking and candid lyrics, such as, “I just want to be remembered. I just want to be someone people will sit and talk about after I'm dead and gone.” (It’s quite possible that’s paraphrased slightly, though it was right along those lines.)
Somewhat surprisingly, “Where Did You Go?” wound up being one of the absolute fan favorites of the night. People were singing along so loudly to it they essentially provided the backing vocals, echoing along with every last word.
Estrada was beaming gleefully at everyone as his band mates packed up and retreated to the green room. In a surprising twist, “Blue & Grey” made the cut on the set list, and it was yet another different rendition from the other versions of it that exist. Estrada used an electric guitar for it, though it was still quite restrained. He even transformed it into something of a soulful tune, while keeping the gravity of it intact.
“Paco Estrada, everyone!” Shafer exclaimed upon getting back in front of his microphone. “I don’t know if you know him, but he seems like a good dude,” he quipped, earning some laughter from the onlookers.
As he spoke the intro for the next song had begun, and upon recognizing “Regret” patrons cheered. It was an exceptional way to kick in the final stretch of their set, the raw power that defines it pushing the musicians to their limits and beyond. When he needed to be, Pederson was a beast behind the drum kit, while Abbott and Sowell were invigorated and cut loose on their guitars.
New stuff abounded in the homestretch of their 67-minute long set, from the anthemic and epic “Roses” to a more somber piece called “Light The Dark”, which was accented by some glossy tones. Originally done the first time they were plotting a third studio album, “I Will Never Let You Go” has even found new life, what has to be the ultimate love song sounding as beautiful as ever.
“We’re gonna do this again some time. I hope you tell your friends,” Estrada commented in advance of the behemoth closer they had planned, the vague remark leaving one to wonder when that next time might be.
Hopefully it isn’t too far off because the ferocious finish left the audience wanting more. Chants for an encore were quick to arise, though they went unanswered.
That was okay, because what a show it had been.
Sure, there were some songs that it would have been great to hear, but they still performed the bulk of what is a revered album, and the new songs served to build anticipation for what is coming down the pike.
It’s difficult to even describe what SouthFM did this night, because it was something that needed to be experienced in order to have a full appreciation of it. Estrada, Abbott, Shafer, Sowell and Pederson radiated a commanding demeanor from the moment that the curtain opened on them, and it only became more potent as time went by. The song selection was behooving of the intensity they cultivated, while the rapid-fire pace they maintained was paramount to the show being as stunning as it was. By the end there was no doubting what an impeccable collective they are, having shaking off all of the dust during the past year and returning to form.
This performance was every bit as exceptional as the ones from their heyday; Sowell and Pederson having some big shoes to fill and doing so quite well, both now possessing the necessary energy and charisma that past members established.
It’s really amazing that after so many years apart a band can reform and come back and be in as amazing shape as ever. Furthermore, it’s amazing that they have this kind of staying power. The throng of fans that turned out were proof of that, their act of showing up saying a lot of how special those songs are to them even to this day, more than a decade since SouthFM originally disbanded.
That’s a special kind of relationship, and one the musicians sure didn’t take for granted as they poured their hearts and souls into this performance, striving to make it yet another night for people to remember.
It certainly won’t be forgotten.
It may be some time before they grace the stage again; The Day of the Rose planned to be released sometime in 2019 and creating it will surely require much of their time.
Keep an eye on their FACEBOOK page for news of any future events. And for anyone lacking SouthFM’s music, all of their previous releases can be found on BANDCAMP (and potentially downloaded for free).
SouthFM Set List:
1) “Killing Me”
2) “Push Me Away”
3) “Habit”
4) “Wildfires”
5) “Snowflake”
6) “Surface”
7) “Where Did You Go?”
8) “All You Have To Hold”
9) “Blue & Grey” (Paco Solo)
10) “Regret”
11) “Roses”
12) “Light The Dark”
13) “I Will Never Let You Go”
14) “Vesica Piscis”
