Earl Greyhound

Earl Greyhound rocked out a magnificent set at All Points West last weekend. After the Brooklyn natives told me that they were playing a free show the following night in the Lower East Side, I decided to bring some friends over to check them out. This was a bit of a throwback show, in the sense that guitarist/pianist/singer Matt Whyte and bassist/guitarist/keyboardist/singer Kamara Thomas would be performing acoustic versions of songs. These two started out playing together many years ago, primarily at shows just like this one. Drummer Ricc Sheridan attended, hanging out at a table with some friends, to support his fam up on stage.

The show was a great way for the crowd to hear some stripped down versions of a few Earl Greyhound songs, while giving Whyte and Thomas an opportunity to rehearse and play around with some of the new songs that they plan to feature on the new album. Kicking off the show, Whyte and Thomas played three songs off the debut album Soft Targets. First, Whyte and Thomas showed off their harmonizing skills on a beautiful rendition of “Good.” Next, they played “It’s Over,” a standout track from their debut and a song they left off the setlist at APW. The final song was “Back and Forth,” one of their better-known songs. Out of the three, this track sounded like the biggest departure from the way the band normally plays it live. Whyte and Thomas’ voices were stunning, as they each held their own verses before blending for the chorus.

To follow up with the Earl Greyhound songs, the duo played a song called “Out of Air.” This is a song that they played when the two just started out (before Earl Greyhound) and it was interesting to hear from where the band originated, which was clearly a mellower, folkier place. I hope they eventually record some of these tracks and make them available, as if the others are nearly as good as “Out of Air,” it would be a shame for them not to be heard. They continued with two more songs that are either old or new, but are not off Soft Targets. The second actually sounded like a cover, but I couldn’t place it at the time. Next, they played a song that Whyte wrote for Thomas’ musical/opera “Bulgaria” and it certainly increased my interest in hearing the full work. They finished up with a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Love Me,” which as you can imagine, was a fun way to finish out a great set.

The highlight of the evening was unquestionably when the duo reached the second-to-last song, a new track titled “Misty Morning.” At 8:30, the song is an epic ballad, split up into chapter-like verses and pulled back together by a powerful, rolling chorus. It builds to the climax, where Kamara shows off her amazing voice. Matt mentioned that they planned to have Ricc sit in for the song, but they did not have the proper setup. I can’t say that I was not disappointed to hear that, but regardless, it is plenty powerful without the drums. Frankly, the song is just badass. I cannot wait to hear how it sounds fully produced with drums and a richer feel. This is going to be a staple at Earl Greyhound shows for many years.

Thomas and Whyte will be performing at the Living Room again tonight (at 9:00). It is their final summer acoustic show at the Living Room and I highly recommend you check them out. Do not expect an Earl Greyhound show. This performance is different. For those of you who are not familiar with Soft Targets, these guys will impress. If you are a fan, I don’t need to tell you, but this is not something you want to miss.

The band just announced that they will be dong a special live recording (no word on how they plan to release the recording as of yet.) The two-night set will take place at the Mary Lea Johnson Performing Arts Center at The Calhoun School:
Thursday, September 11 – 7 pm (electric set)
Friday, September 12 – 8 pm (acoustic set)

Earl Greyhound will also be performing another free show (21 & over) this Wednesday (August 20) at 10:30 pm at Southpaw in Brooklyn.

Check back soon for our interview/conversation with Earl Greyhound at All Points West.

Dr. Dog

Upon a stage constructed in the center of Rittenhouse Square, Dr. Dog performed an amazing set in front of thousands of other Philly locals. The crowd was large. In fact, I think numbers must have come close to reaching those of the Rittenhouse weekend block parties. Rittenhouse is a beautiful place, but you cannot host an event like Central Park’s Summerstage here. The stage would hang over the streets. Ok, I exaggerate, but you get the idea. Still, it was a large crowd for Dr. Dog, who for some reason still play mostly smaller spots in their hometown, despite selling out every show well in advance. It took a good fifteen minutes to find a bench, but in the pleasant air, I was chillin’. Do not get me wrong, the city felt humid, but what Philly/NYC summer evening does not?

The band played for well over an hour, so the guys were able to cover a good portion of their large catalog. They chose to focus on the last two albums, We All Belong and Fate. The crowd jumped in to sing-along with “The Way the Lazy Do,” but the highlight of the song was easily when the band members busted out some dance moves during the breakdowns. Dr. Dog kept it going with the next song, a near perfect rendition of “I Hope There’s Love,” that sounded very different from the version on the album. This live performance pulled in a few breaks in the drums and this silence, gave the music an interesting break.

I am not sure the name of the next song that stood out, so if anyone was there and can help me out with this one, I would appreciate it. Toby Leaman mentioned that it was the first time that the band used an acoustic guitar in concert, which, if true, I find a bit shocking. This was my first time seeing the band live, but based on the studio versions, I would assume that many of the tracks lend themselves to acoustic renditions. This song was great, featuring the brass instruments (trombone and trumpet) in a jazzy beginning. The song felt epic in a Sigur Ros kind of way.

My personal favorite of the evening was the song the band played just after they handed out a full case of drinks to the crowd. This was “Worst Trip” off We All Belong and just everyone was on stage. The full band featured the regulars of Scott (guitar, vocals), Toby (bass, vocals), Zach (keys, vocals), Juston (drums, vocals) and Frank (guitar, vocals), as well as a trombone, a trumpet, an alto saxophone, a baritone sax, two violins and a cello.

The show itself was great and I have no complaints about the music.  On the other hand, I hope the crew that puts on the free concerts in the park (Philadelphia Weekly, WXPN, etc.) learns from their mistakes. For some reason, the organizers decided it wise to build a stage in the only spot of the park that would leave very few angles with a good view of the stage. There is a large gazebo in the center of the patio section of the park, blocking most of the crowd from seeing the band on the stage. If they build it on any of the grass areas or the corners of the park, the views would increase exponentially.

Categories: Concert Reviews, News
Tags: Dr. Dog, Earl Greyhound