THE SWEET HURT

Posted by Samantha - filed in Events

The Parson Redheads

The Parson Red Heads || Listen || Watch

The hydra-headed Parson Red Heads brought their nine-person implosion of roots-rock Americana next, proceeding to play the new, six-song EP in it’s entirety before moving on to older tracks. “County Line” began as a three-minute instrumental, a gentle rise-and-fall of graceful, near-ambient beauty, before launching into a bouncy rocker, driven by the pet sounds of Evan Way’s harmonized vocal and David Swenson’s elastic basslines; “Got it All” was a starburst of pop verses surrounded by the thunderous, marrow-rattling crash of circuitous guitar riffs; and EP closer “Crowds” featured the band’s golden vocal harmonies interweaving above a hushed acoustic churn and Brette Way’s looping drum fills.

Nine people performing on a stage could’ve collapsed into a messy spatter of musical disorganization, with songs and time signatures Jackson Pollack’d across the set; it’s a tribute to the Red Heads’ skill that their live show is equal to their recordings, if only a bit louder and fueled by a rougher, sweatier energy. They’re also more than the sum of their influences—though often mentioned in the same critical breath as the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Byrds, they’ve forged their own brand of country-and-harmony-inflected L.A. rock, one that continues a tradition instead of just standing upon it. – Web In Front

with:
Willoughby
The Spires
The Sweet Hurt || Listen