Kodaline and Good Old War played a killer show at Baltimore Soundstage, 9/20

One crisp Sunday evening in September found a crowded music hall moving to the same mystifying jams of two great bands. Dozens of concert-goers crowded into Baltimore Soundstage to hear the dulcet tones of Good Old War and the Irish-inflected rock of Kodaline. The show was an experience to behold, from the lights to the guitar changes. Originally from the City of Brotherly Love, Good Old War’s act heavily featured just that: brotherly love, or, more accurately, bro love. Keith Goodwin, one of the two guitarist-vocalists, and drummer Tim Arnold shared a precious moment of friendship onstage, evoking warm and fuzzy from the audience. Throughout the set, Goodwin displayed dazzling showmanship via his lanky, unconventional dance moves and commitment to interacting with the audience, not to mention his voice, which rang like a better, cleaner version of Bob Dylan. Guitarist-vocalist Dan Schwartz pumped up the audience with his endless energy and dynamic playing, while Arnold’s good vibes were infectious and his drumming premium. It’s a shame their set was only half an hour long. Headlining and hailing from Dublin, Kodaline brought own brand of mind-blowing rock to the stage. Changing guitars with every song and engaging with the audience’s cravings for a good show, this indie quartet played with great versatility within and between songs, rocking hard and fast alternately with slow, romantic melodies. Frontman Steve Garrigan is the epitome of his role, commanding wide range of instrumental skill and a set of pipes that can replace half a church choir. From start to finish, Kodaline grips the audience’s attention and doesn’t disappoint, sharing intimate moments of emotion and musicality.