Mimicking Birds set the mood for the night. The trio is a very humble, soft spoken band making quite the unexpected entrance into the national music scene, and it was easy to tell why. Frontman Nate Lacy’s gentle voice filled the room with a very fitting aura for the holiday season. With sounds similar to Chicago folk artists Owen, the trio strummed, plucked, picked, and banged softly, diverting one head after another from the bar to the stage. Lacy’s finger picking style held a warm melody, complimented well by guitarist Tim Skellenger and drummer Aaron Hanson. The band has recently signed to Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock’s record label, Glacial Pace, and recorded their debut album in Brock’s home in Oregon. The album is scheduled to be released in early 2010. They are definitely a band to keep an eye on.
The night continued with Laura Veirs and the Hall of Flames taking the stage next. With a baby on board (in her belly), Veirs and the band wooed the crowd with their timely folk ballads and their energetic alt-country jams. At one point during the show, Laura praised the crowd for their participation, (they had started an unprompted clap the previous song) jokingly noting that they had sped things up a little. The following song, bassist Eric Anderson took matters into his own hands. Playing a floor tom and cymbals during the song, he gradually sped the beat up as the song progressed, forcing Veirs (playing banjo at the time) and violist Kate O’Brien Clarke to speed up with him. The song became a talent show for the two and ended with the crowd in an uproar of cheers. They put on a fantastic performance as the crowd grew larger and larger. The newest album, “July Flame” comes out January 2010. I regret not buying one at the show.
Finishing the night off was Portland’s beloved Blind Pilot. Considering their debut album, 3 Rounds and a Sound, was the album of the summer for me, this was a long-awaited show. The wait was worth it. They exceeded my expectations and only left me wanting more. Seeing five people climb onto a stage and play as “together” as these five musicians play may have left the other musicians in the crowd feeling discouraged and angry. After banging out the first few songs, fixing the feedback from the sound system, and setting the levels for each instrument just right, Blind Pilot left every attentive listener (which was almost everyone in what appeared to be a standing-room only venue) awestruck for the rest of the night. Whether it was lead singer/guitarist Israel Nebeker chatting with the crowd about the heat in the building or the other members playing with parts of the ceiling hanging down, they drove all feelings of nostalgia out of the room and instead filled it with relaxation and warmth. There was not much dancing. There was not much chatter. Instead, the room was struck with admiration.
-Christopher Michael/Two Pandas
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