Dorothy’s mantra, “there’s no place like home”, still proves true. Far from the fictional Oz, last night’s performance at the TLA was warm and fuzzy all the same. Opening with loveable local outfit Buried Beds, the tone of the evening was set with keyboardist Eliza Jones’ welcoming words, “It’s so awesome to be home.” Practically beaming, the band’s indie folk finesse unfolded with “Steady Hand”. Featured on Tremble The Sails, the staccato clicks of drumsticks and strums of mandolin induced swooning by listeners while the acoustic intro of “Ivory Towers” impressed with impeccable harmonies and claps. Closing their set with the help of their tourmates, Buried Beds’ exit was endearingly ecstatic and premised by applause.
With the swagger of a western, Vagrant vets Murder By Death took the stage with In Bocca Al Lupo’s “Sometimes the Line Walks You”. Fans leaned towards the stage with fists raised high, echoing frontman Adam Turla’s shouts of “Jailbreak!” “’52 Ford” and “King of the Gutters, Prince of the Dogs” brought to mind Johnny Cash, painting pictures of dusty trails and open skies. A quick tribute to whiskey, the band turned to older songs like “Until Morale Improves, the Beatings Will Continue” and dramatic “Devil in Mexico”. Dedicating “Brothers” to fellow tourmates, “Coming Home” gave way to goodbyes.
Before mewithoutYou graced the stage, the mere sight of their gear caused fans to cheer. The audience shuffled and shoved their way closer to the stage while chatter and “Hand In Glove” filled the atmosphere. Brother, Sister’s “Messes of Men” was a fitting first, later followed by well-loved favorites like “Goodbye, I” and “C-Minor”. A hushed “Son of a Widow” bled into the cheerful “Timothy Hay”, leading to the crashing chords of “Torches Together”. Richard Mazzotta’s drummed out beats incited rhythmic claps from fans and bouts of dancing to the tune of frontman Aaron Weiss’ shouts. “A Glass Can Only Spill What It Contains” played out poetic with melodrama, much like the prolific prose of “January 1979”. Ending with “Allah, Allah, Allah,” the band’s exit was brief. Leaving the stage empty for what felt like five minutes, mewithoutYou returned with a three song encore, sandwiching “The Fox, The Crow, and the Cookie” between “Disaster Tourism” and their last farewell of the night, “In a Sweater Poorly Knit”.
– Dianca Potts (Words & Photos)