I can't tell you how excited I am about this post! I put it off a week, to collect my thoughts, yet all I want to say is "assdjksa!!!" :)
If you know me, you know that Barcelona is like... one of, it not my favorite band(s) EVER. Excuse me for sounding like a fan girl. I accept any names you may feel the need to throw my way.
Let me give you some back story. Feel free to jump over this if you don't want to hear about my insanity. I can't say I'd blame you. So I was out late for a few nights in a row, then headed to South By SouthWest in Austin, Texas early Saturday morning. We got back to Houston around 4pm on Sunday and my car wouldn't start. I'd had issues before with the battery terminals. I'd go into detail, but I don't want to blow your mind and be held accountable. Basically, I got help jumping the car, went to pick up my brother and had to fix it all over again by myself. Awesome, right? My dad told me I shouldn't go to the show just in case I didn't do it correctly, but I'm stubborn and my brother and I took off for downtown. I didn't have time to go home, but luckily a little OrangeGlo took the grease off my hands. So insane!
Okay. Back to the show. Check out my venue profile for The GroudHall by clicking HERE!
The first band that went on didn't have a name.(By the end of the night, I heard someone refer to them as Violet CoPilot?) They were brand new, though very impressive. I'll update once I find out more information and if they have any more shows lined up.
Finnegan was a great addition to the bill. As they were setting up, I got a kind of "Austin" vibe and anticipated what was to come. What I admired most was their addition of a stand up bass and flute to their band. It added an interesting texture to their music, especially in such an intimate venue. I'd love to hear more from them in the future, as I think their music definitely has a place in Houston.
Next was CastleLights. I can't say I had heard of them, as they are also a newer band and still getting their name out there, but I was totally blown away. I really didn't want their set to end, even though I was looking forward to Barcelona. On top of their talent, the guys are incredibly kind. They do have an EP entitled Paint The Stars that I highly recommend, specifically the tracks Saint Era and Paint The Stars. A big thank you to Aaron, Tyler and Jeremiah! Can't wait to see you all again soon!
Finally it was time for Barcelona! One thing I can honestly say is that these guys know how to put together a killer set! All of their songs are incredible and the lyrics are some of the most simple, yet powerful I've ever come across. They skipped over one of my favorite tracks, Time To Mend, but hit crowd-pleasers like Falling Out Of Trees and It's About Time. (Side note-Chris Bristol has the most amazing guitar I've ever seen! If my brother keeps playing, I may have to save and get him one eventually. Shh...don't tell him!) Brian has been blessed with a fantastic voice. He and Chris harmonize seamlessly and really have a way of bringing the lyrics to live. You can buy their album, Absolutes, on Amazon and expect a new album early summer. The new tracks sound incredible, especially one entitled "Less Than 2." I'm really looking forward to the new material from these guys.
My brother and I had a wonderful time at this show. He kept saying "I'm so shocked these guys haven't blown up yet!" I guess I trained his ear well!
No comments:
Post a Comment