The Head and the Heart
Thursday, March 4th, 2010  |||  Conor Byrne Pub, Seattle, WA

WORDS & TEXT BY DUSTIN DARNOLD

A small contingency of hippie folk converged for an evening of infectious backbeats and transcendent harmonies at Ballard’s Conor Byrne Pub Thursday night. There were sing-a-longs, glimpses of introspection, good vibrations, and members of Grand Hallway here to support their peers. This was certainly the place to catch up with old and new friends and perhaps trade unashamed advertisements to upcoming gigs.

As the crowd rolled into what became an almost full house, it wasn’t until Salt Lake City’s The Devil Whale took the stage that the vibe really picked up and people began to meander away from the bar. The four boys kicked out unpredictability within the sometimes restrictive structure of rock n’ roll, and before I knew it… my feet were a stompin’ and my head was a knockin’. Their brand of pop and backwoods ramblers kicked ass but still let you down so sweet and easy. At times, the two guitar assault they effortlessly echoed added the meat to my bones and like any good art, left me hungry for more.

With my starved eyes pacing the room, the night’s final act took one last swig beer and prepared the stage. The Head & the Heart, an up and coming Seattle band with sights set on harmony and melody, kicked off their set with acoustic acuity. A band mostly comprised of transplants, the band's first song introduced us to the idea of leaving a comfortable home for someplace new. This was just the beginning of a journey around instrumental breaks and lullabies that might easily send your head to the clouds or leave you swimming in forests of seaweed.

With songs like “Sounds Like Hallelujah,” The Head & The Heart seem to border between renditions of lost folk ballads and potential commercial appeal. They certainly have the looks, they’re certainly developing their hooks… now it’s just a matter of time before they may tap into the pulse that brings with them so much potential.

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THE BANDS ONLINE:
Grand Hallway's Official Website
The Devil Whale on Myspace
The Head & the Heart on Myspace