via Yahoo webcast

The Head And The Heart rolled into Boston and the House of Blues was turned into a selfie studio, as it often is.

But it’s come to my attention that it is very hard to take a decent selfie during a show — so, I’ve put together a handy guide of which songs to gather your group of friends and get that duck face on and press the shutter button.

“Lost in My Mind” — there are singalong portions, so the lights that illuminate the crowd will come on during those parts. Rating: Fire away!

“Down In The Valley” — This was the last song of the night, so use this as a last-ditch effort. Rating: Use caution.

“Fire / Fear” — I saw a group unsuccessfully trying to get a selfie during this solo song. Best practice: if there’s one dude on the stage, you’re sure as hell not gonna get good enough lighting. Rating: lol srsly?

“Never, How About Never?” — This isn’t a song title, but it is a good rule to abide by. Rating: don’t take selfies at a club show.

As for what was going on stage Wednesday, it wasn’t until half way through the set where the band really got its footing. The opening pairing of songs “Cats and Dogs” and “Couer d’Alene” from the self-titled debut fell flat. The latter was a touch lethargic, and a trip into the crowd from founding member Josiah Johnson could not rescue it. Perhaps it was my own nostalgia for a 2012 show I saw them play, but the energy was not there – not in the room and not in the band. Perhaps there’s a bit of tour fatigue setting in, the band’s Boston Calling set earlier in the year wasn’t as staid.

“Homecoming Heroes” from 2014’s Let’s Be Still was the strongest song of the early part of the set, but the next stretch of songs felt a bit sleepy. Does the band enjoy playing certain songs? I’m not sure. That’s not to discount their chemistry on stage, which is clearly there. Their banter, just watching them interact and move about the stage (and have cutesy side conversations while another band member takes the lead), is very endearing and what makes this band worth seeing live.

Also, it’s clear the band really serves its fans — the band acquiesced to a fan’s request earlier in the day to play “Josh McBride.” As someone who’s had song requests go on deaf ears, it’s nice to see that pay off.

Once the band launched into the hit “Lost In My Mind,” things seemed to go better. The crowd seemed to wake up from a slumber and sang along. They didn’t really let up until the final notes of “Rivers and Roads,” though tuning breaks allowed for the band to engage with the crowd. Johnson told an embarrassing story about the band’s manager in a poncho snafu at Fenway Park immortalized in a YouTube video. Some enterprising fans made a giant cardboard cutout of violinist Charity Rose Thielen and it made its way to the stage for a second:

When a band ascends to headline the House of Blues, it means they’re doing something right. And it’s clear that’s what Head and The Heart has done, but it comes at the expense of becoming Bro Folk. Joining the ranks of acts like The Lumineers means hordes of dudes tossing back a few too many $6 PBRs (served in neato paper bags for some reason) and forgetting what personal space means to others. When the band headlined the Royale for a pair of nights leading up to Newport Folk Fest in 2012, this was much less of a problem. It’s a disappointing, but inevitable transformation.

In any respect, if you enjoy either of The Head and The Heart’s records, it’s worth going to check them out, even if it means having to endure drunken-selfie city.

Wisconsin’s Phox opened the show, and it’s a damn shame the band has not been booked as a headliner anywhere within the city. It seems like an aberration, to be honest. In the last year and a half, they’ve played The Sinclair, The Royale and have played House of Blues twice, but always in a support role. For one thing, a half hour isn’t enough time for this band to play.

More importantly, it’d be nice if this band played in front of people who wanted to see them — many of the arrangements are subtle and aren’t in your face. For a support act, this pretty much seals its fate as a band to hold a conversation over instead of truly enjoying it.

So here’s a plea to Phox’s booking agents: Put them in a room like Brighton Music Hall or The Sinclair or The Middle East! As headliners! Please! The unique folk music produced by Monica Martin and company is too good to be impeded by beer swillers and conversations about upcoming flights for the holidays.

The Head and The Heart’s tour with Phox continues with a tour date this weekend in Northampton. See the rest of the tour dates here.