Show Review: The Rosebuds, Love Language
The Raleigh group of The Rosebuds came to Philadelphia last Thursday (1/15) to play at Johnny Brenda’s along with The Love Language, and even though the strange pop style doesn’t lend to crazy zombie dances, the group managed to involve everyone in attendance.
The Rosebuds
When The Rosebuds released Life Like in the fall of 2008, fans of the group knew something special was in order. In the group’s fashion of genre jumping, this effort moved in the direction of acoustic goth-rock. Not only did they produce a sound rich with lurid tales entwined smoothly with a UK pop melody, but they somehow stamped a guarantee for a quality live show.
Most noticeably upon their arrival in front of the 100+ people on the second floor of JB’s was the body-length winter coat of keyboardist and vocalist Kelly Crisp. Sure, the southern drawl of Ivan Howard hyping up the crowd caught some attention, but a winter coat during an indoor show is a bit odd.
With all eyes on stage, Crisp and Howard, along with Megafaun‘s bassist Phil Cook and Roman Candle‘s drummer Logan Matheny joined Crisp and Howard as they opened up with the instantly enchanting “Blue Bird” from their Birds Make Good Neighbors album. This followed with fan favorites “Life Like” and “Cape Fear”.
Towards the end of the set, Howard and crew focused in on their fan-friendly songs, “Nice Fox” and “Bow to the Middle: Religion of Politics”. With the band singing and dancing around the small stage, the crowd followed by chanting back “and it don’t mean nothing at all.”
This show ascended to meet high expectations. No distortion or unclear lyrics shot from the speakers or from the walls, which meant The Rosebuds were worth checking out.
Love Language
A party formed on stage when Love Language‘s set started. Seven members occupied every inch of the already somewhat small stage equiped with guitars, drums, keyboards, tambourines and a bass.
The seven-person band composed of Stuart McLamb, Jordan McLamb, Junis Beefmonth, Joshua Pope, Kate Thompson, Tom Simpson and Missy Thangs are a group in the truest form. Multiple layers of vocals, all instruments chiming in an organized manner and a cohesion within the feel good southern rock charm Love Language locked down.
For more on Love Language and The Rosebuds, head to their links above to check out their remaining tour dates before they head back to North Carolina.
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