Fortunately, the intimacy of the venue worked really well for Best Coast’s style. Before the band took the stage, Bobb Bruno himself helped set up the equipment. In the couple minutes before the concert began, the audience got out of their seats and started crowding the stage. By the time Best Coast swaggered their way on, fans were standing just a few feet in front of the band. After finishing their first song, Bethany Cosentino joked that, “You guys are so close. It’s weird having all these eyes on me.” Their laid-back attitude continued through the whole show, whether Cosentino was asking who was having a kegger that night or complaining about her bangs. It felt less like a concert and more like hanging out with friends, listening to an old classmate from high school play.

Best Coast might’ve acted like they were nothing special, but their performance said otherwise. They sounded just as full and energized as they do on their records, if not more so. Cosentino was in full-form. Every note she sang was right on, bright, clear, and full of inflections you can’t find in their recordings. The chorus of “Why I Cry” was positively explosive, as she wailed on “Do you know why I cry?” They played a good balance of songs from both Crazy For You and The Only Place and show-cased their new single, “Fear of My Identity” (which is available on eBay, but don’t buy it because apparently it’s super expensive). Highlights from the show included: “Crazy For You”, because they sang about weed in a church; “The Only Place”, which immediately got the audience grooving and moving; “Boyfriend”, the perfect, crowd favorite closer; and “How They Want Me To Be”, probably the most emotional performance of the night. Cosentino brought a raw yearning to her voice, and the audience couldn’t help but see it, hear it, and feel it. The lyrics came alive, and for a moment, the whole room was lost in the song.

It’s always refreshing to see a band perform that isn’t too rehearsed or are such veterans that the novelty of touring has worn off. Best Coast was just that, which made it all the more disappointing when they didn’t come back for an encore. But hey, no hard feelings. They might’ve had to run to catch the kegger.

The post Show Review: Best Coast @ First United Methodist Church — 4/27/13 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Sometimes an indie folk band has the ability to get a crowd thinking they are at a much bigger, louder show. That is exactly what Blind Pilot did on February 2, 2012. The crowd was ecstatic and wild as if Blind Pilot’s return to Iowa City was long overdue. Touring behind last year’s We Are the Tide they found themselves at the downstairs of the Blue Moose Tap House.

Iowa City’s own Emperors Club was the opener and they did well to get the crowd ready. They had an ample amount of fans and many people seemed as excited to see them as they were to see Blind Pilot. Then a little after ten the Portland sextet came on stage to cheers and went right into playing their pop-friendly blend of folk. Lead singer Israel Nebeker sounded flawless throughout the night, dipping into harmonies that were fantastic live. The sound was great as they graced the stage, layering trumpet, vibraphone, upright bass, and harmonium in with guitars, bass, and drums. At times their sound waivers on the fringe of alt-country and Americana, all the while they keep a sound that is uniquely theirs.

Their set ended shortly before midnight. They made time for older favorites like “I Buried a Bone” and “The Story I’ve Heard” as well as a large portion of songs from their new record. The crowd was excited to hear the popular “One Red Thread,” which got the largest reaction. But perhaps the most special part of the show was when the band closed with an unplugged version of “3 Round and a Sound.” They asked the audience to quiet down and for the tech to be turned off. The performance was haunting and beautiful. If anything it was a testament to their talent and songwriting capabilities. With performances like this there is no doubt you will be hearing more about them in the future.

The post Concert Review: Blind Pilot at Blue Moose Tap House appeared first on KRUI Radio.