On a Saturday night at The Range, ambulance I followed Evelyn Horan’s voice into an intimate room with dim-set lights. Turkish rugs adorned the walls behind her and stillness fell upon the crowd. I found myself there for a basement show organized by Houseguests in a DIY strike of genius. All proceeds of the show were donated to Relay for Life, see a feel good bonus on what was an amazing night.
Horan sang in a soft and beautiful way that left the audience feeling touched and soothed. She reminded me of a less bubbly Ingrid Michaelson or an acoustic Daughter who isn’t suffering from perpetual heartbreak, salve emotional isolation, and a couple’s therapy bill. She has a sort of coffee shop vibe, but she’s the kind of coffee shop that only serves strange herbal teas—and that’s what makes her songs wonderful. Her cover of the Arctic Monkey’s “Why’d You Only Call Me When Your High,” stood as a major highlight of the set. Her interpretation of the track brings out the subtle ache in the lyrics. Overall, Evelyn Horan gave a heartfelt performance; her hushed sound is like a library you want to get lost in on a stormy day. One can find her debut EP, Tea at the Palaz of Hoon, here.
Next, the Houseguests plugged in. By this time, the crowd was pretty juiced. Everyone packed the basement to fire hazard levels (a requirement of any good house show). On lead vocals, Noah Yastrow sang with a sense of nostalgia and longing, while doubling as rhythm guitarist. Graham Cooke joined him on vocal duties, played the bass, and served as the hype man. Cooke talked with the crowd and helped lead the sing-along moments, which represented the meaning of the event: bringing the drunken youth together for music and a good cause.
With Evan Radkey on lead guitar, their sound could be described as Band of Horses without the beards. Specifically, the openings strings on “Wooden Kingdoms,” echoes those on Band of Horses’ “Is There A Ghost.” Further, the songs create momentum by crafting tension with melodic picking and then sweeping into howling choruses. If I had to describe the group as a musical smoothie, they would be blended with a sprinkle of the Local Native’s dreamlike melodies, a taste of The Morning Benders chiller side, and topped off with all-organic carrots. In other words, a slight California vibe that’s tasty and good for the digestion.
Lyrically, the band romanticizes the past with songs about 1956 and scenic lines like, “We sit on down where the sea meets the shore / we leave them all our memories / to sift through.” The words fashion a faded photo vibe as if seeing one’s parents young for the first time. With that said, Houseguests established themselves as my favorite memory of the night. They even teased the crowd with some mystery tracks due to be released on their upcoming album. If you can’t wait, check out their self-titled debut EP here.
Milk finished up the night with some Search and Destory-esque jams. The band’s line up includes Mathew Brady on guitar and lead vocals, Jesse Galkowski on drums, Luke Savoca on bass, and Samuel Taber on piano. Their sound ranges from wandering piano blues to quick punk slams with spitting guitars. More specifically, the song 1430 Strut ripped into heavy chords, the kind that gives an angry drunk reason to break a lamp. The song “Restless Deep Sea Blues,” sounded as if The Black Key’s went on a psychedelic journey with Jim Morrison as their spirit guide—Wayne’s World style. To literally say the least, the group finished the night up with a solid set. You can listen to their EP, Hubba Hubba, here. All in all, the event raised $450 for Relay For Life, as well as awareness of some great local music—community service at its best.
