I'm kind of stuck on "IT WAS AWESOME THEY WERE AMAZING I WANT TO MARRY BEN BRIDWELL'S VOICE". It's tempered on the CD and sounds pure and sweet, but live it just rings and soars. Even when it shouldn't sound so warm, when phrases end in yelps, it sounds like a bell, high and clear. Normally, I get very restless during slow songs, and the middle of the set was packed with softer moments, but I just closed my eyes and let the music wash over me in bliss. The musicianship of the whole band was great, particularly in the guitar work which reminds me of the good parts of classic rock, and the blues. It just sounded so so good overall, note-perfect but with heart and atmosphere that makes a live show worth it.
Apart from the music itself, the band were fun and relaxed on stage, bantering amongst themselves (culminating, at one point, with a foul-mouthed rant from their keyboardist, Ryan Monroe, about New Zealanders and sheep) as well as joking with the audience. Upon being greeted with the typical Whooooooooo! of excitement as they took to the stage at the start, Ben Bridwell returned the call, and would do so throughout the night, a goodnaturedly mocking call and response. A happy fan exclaimed, after a rollicking first four songs, "You guys sound great!" which fell upon a unexpected hush over the room, such that it carried not only the stage but all through the theatre. The band laughed and acknowledged the fannish adoration, attributing it all to the sound guy. They just seemed very easygoing as performers, and cutely aware of the relationship between them and their audience; as they sounded out the very well-known and probably very eagerly awaited for first notes of their best known track, The Funeral, Ben Bridwell called out that this was their "fake last song", and at the end bid us their "fake goodbye", a nod and a wink at the encore to come.
Certain other things kept me amused during the night - the crazy, pogo-ing fan who managed to jump up and down excitedly during every song, regardless of the tempo or mood; the fact that BoH may well be one of the most hirsuit bands I have ever seen and their fans likewise (it was truly a Band of Beards, with muttonchops and moustaches aplenty on the 5/6ths I could see) - but what kept the smile on my face was the band's amazing talent and the wonderful songs. From familiar singles to older songs to fantastic covers to audience sing-a-long as Ben Bridwell pointed first to us and them himself in the refrain of "you...me..." in The General Specific that ended the night, the overwhelming feeling was one of joy, from the band and reflected back by the crowd.
Is There A Ghost
The Great Salt Lake
Islands on the Coast
Weed Party
? (featured a harmonica)
Thirteen Days (J.J. Cale cover)
Marry Song
Cigarettes, Wedding Bands
The First Song
No One Goes Out Anymore (Tyler Ramsey)
Detlef Schrempf
Older (Ryan Monroe)
No One's Gonna Love You
Ode to LRC
Wicked Gil
The Funeral
Our Swords
Am I A Good Man (Them Two cover)
General Specific
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