"And ask if we’re ready for something less obscure."
It is hard to say what is and isn’t obscure these days, but pulling up to the house turned intimate, 20 to 30 person, concert venue in the Western Suburb of Batavia one might expect to be in for something slightly obscure. On the chalkboard out front it is written, "Tonight: Felix & Lyons and Venna". The Office is located in the same parking lot as a church and for this 7pm show I arrived along side church patrons. Entering the venue it is clear how The Office got its name. It shares space with an accounting firm, but the performance space has been well designed. It is complete with dark blue walls, local art work, and a yarn and thumbtack piece that will amaze.
Felix & Lyons took the stage first, and despite having released their debut album, Something Between Us, back in the fall, I had not previewed their album prior to the show. Reading up on facebook, I found out that they consider themselves the modern day Johnny Cash and June Carter, and after the first song it was clear why. The playful give and take between the two vocalists, Christian Felix and Kendra Lyons, was mesmerizing. Their set included two covers, Mumford & Sons and Amy Winehouse, and was compelling start to finish. It is clear that the band is a pure mixture of the two leads musical tastes, Felix is little bit country and Lyons is a little bit pop.
Venna was up next to perform a stripped down, three person amped up acoustic set. This was the band’s first show with physical copies of their new full-length album. The trio play a loose but warm and passionate set that included many of the songs from their new album, Third Generation Hymnal.
Overall, it was a fantasic night of music in a small and inviting near living room of a space.