If you’re going to choose to go out on a Sunday night to see a show, when you’re already extra tired from a long weekend, you need to make sure the bands you’re seeing are worth your time. Wax Owls and Graciehorse certainly were. Playing at The Venice West near Venice, CA, the two groups kept me awake and engaged.
While there was one other band on the bill (Mr. Crash I believe), I arrived mid-set and was more focused on ordering food and conversation during their set to give it my proper attention. Once I was fed, I was able rest both my ears on Graciehorse‘s set. The Los Angeles based singer-songwriter’s music circles around the sound of classic country, but with a raw blues energy that stems from her deep, barreling vocals. Much like the title to her latest album L.A. Shit, many of her songs were about shitty people, and were graced with a proper “f**k you” attitude. There’s a throwback sound to tracks like “If You’re Gonna Walk That Straight Line Son, It’s Only Gonna Hurt”, with its guitar tones and disaffected delivery echoing 70’s California country rock. While her stage banter was a little out of sorts, Gracie certainly did her songs justice.
Lead singer/rhythm guitarist Gerry Hirschfeld and drummer Chris Tsaganeas of Wax Owls both met in their former lives as lawyers, and decided to leave the law behind to focus on their passion for music, and so far it seems to be panning out well. The DIY band have already had songs placed in high profile shows like Grey’s Anatomy (with “Bring the Rain”, played during the set), received radio play and performed at major festivals like Bonnaroo. The songs speak to their success.
Similar to groups like The Lumineers and Darlingside, Wax Owls merge upbeat folk rock with excellent harmonizing. Opening tracks like “Time Goes By”, and the horn-assisted “Set it Free” become full-on rock tracks in the live setting, with melodies that hit the right emotional notes to make them resonate. The three-member group were joined onstage by an additional lead guitarist Chris Lee and Katie Velev on keys/trombone to help bring their lush recorded tracks to life.
Hirschfeld’s casual interplay with his bandmates added a nice charm to the set, whether it was appreciating his harmonizing with bassist Matt Moody, the back and forth moment with assisting guitarist Lee, or reveling in Tsaganeas’ theatrical playing behind the drums. As a lyricist, the tracks delved into nostalgia on “Light up the Way”, and struggles with romance on “Stay Awhile (“I can’t afford the lightning she cried”).
During one of their more stripped-down songs, Hirschfeld’s vocals and delivery reminded me of defunct indie rockers Two Gallants, who always had a unique way of putting emphasis on certain words that rolled around on the tongue in terrific ways.
Along with playing a couple songs yet to be released, the band played solid new single “The Appetite”, the romantic “Never Alone”, and the closing sing-along (co-penned with Better Than Ezra‘s Kevin Griffith) “Carry Me”. The songs have plenty of hooks and the musicianship from the entire band was top notch. The group will definitely become a favorite of any fans of Mumford & Sons, The Head and the Heart or Lumineers, so hopefully they can get on a bill with those acts in the near future.
Until then, discover them yourselves here!
The Indy Review 