Rivers and roads, rivers and roads… rivers til I reach you
I’ve spent the last five days immersed in green forests and small cafes, breathing the salty seaside air, and quenching my parched insides in the Pacific Northwest. The dampness clinging to my skin as I stood at the foot of these waterfalls and harbors and rivers made me glow fresh, in the same way the joy kinda got put back into my soul.
My completely fitting soundtrack for this last-summer-hurrah adventure was the new album from Seattle’s The Head And The Heart, which is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorite albums this year.
I wrote about how they “sound like hallelujah” at the beginning of the summer, included another song of theirs on my summer mix, and then happily ran into the band on my birthday last Thursday night on a Seattle street corner. They gave me a physical copy of their insanely catchy album, and I listened to it about eight times through this weekend on the road. When I unlocked the door to my still and quiet house tonight, I found myself hungrily googling any new songs that they might have for me, not on the record (since I’ve kind of already worn a digital groove into it).
What I found was this.
It hit me in a profound way. I’ve heard that The Head and The Heart are complete supernovas live, but this – this felt like a moment almost too iridescent to be privy to by secondhand video. An aftershow in a Tacoma parking garage, it’s everything I love about music and about them.
At three minutes in, the spotlight hits directly opposite the camera, and in a flash they are illuminated all around, lit as if from within — as if this pure music they are pouring out of their hearts and hands and stomping feet is making them (and all of us) shine like the last lightning bugs of summer.
Rivers and Roads (parking garage mix) – The Head and The Heart
I feel kinda speechless.
THE HEAD AND THE HEART TOUR DATES
Aug 27 – KEXP’s Mural Amphitheater Show [w/ Mt St Helen Vietnam Band], Seattle, WA
Aug 28 – Tractor Tavern [w/ Grand Hallway], Seattle, WA
Sep 11 – Berbati’s Pan [for MusicFest NW], Portland, OR
Sep 15 – Downtown Crossing, Sandpoint, ID
Sep 16 – Empyrean Coffee [w/ Denison Witmer], Spokane, WA
Sep 18 – Urban Lounge [w/ The Devil Whale, Future of the Ghost, Matt Hopper], Salt Lake City, UT
Sep 23 – The Crocodile [w/ Fences & Campfire OK], Seattle, WA
Sep 24 – Mississippi Studios [w/ Drew Grow and the Pastors’ Wives & Fences], Portland, OR
Sep 25 – The Green Frog [w/ Fences], Bellingham, WA
Sep 27 – The Biltmore Cabaret [w/ Fences], Vancouver, BC
Oct 4 – Silverlake Lounge [w/ Fences], (early show), Los Angeles, CA
Oct 6 – The Rickshaw Stop [w/ Fences], San Francisco, CA
Oct 7 – Sophia’s Thai Kitchen [w/ Fences], Davis, CA
Oct 8 – Sam Bond’s Garage [w/ Fences], Eugene, OR
They are also announcing more dates in the coming months, including — a show at Moe’s in Denver on November 5th (next to the Gothic), which will be presented by Fuel/Friends! Stay tuned here for more information and a ticket giveaway.
My stars — get this album.
EDIT: Another version here.
Name: Heather Browne
I’m a bit new around these parts, but I must say, I like how you share music with us like we’re all friends. Thanks for that, Heather.
Jonathan — August 24, 2010 @ 5:23 am
You guys all are
Thanks for reading.
browneheather — August 24, 2010 @ 7:07 am
They’re playing in Denver at Moe’s Original BBQ(next to The Gothic) on November 5th!
Danny — August 24, 2010 @ 5:05 pm
I found about the Head and the Heart from your blog a few months ago. And, I finally got a physical copy of theirs last week. And, I have to say, it’s also one of my favorite albums of the year. And of course, when I heard that they’ll be playing a show in LA, I was overly excited. Thank you for your tip on this amazing band!
Ryan — August 25, 2010 @ 9:58 pm
i have to echo the feeling that you share as if we are all friends. ive been following you since you started; i am here everyday seeing what you found next. did you create an audio file from the youtube clip and if so how did you do it?
-atx
klaus — August 26, 2010 @ 2:33 pm
I can’t even tell you how many pieces my heart exploded into when I heard them for the first time a few months back. I am so in love with them it’s ridiculous.
Lori — August 28, 2010 @ 4:43 pm
lori, i feel the same way. it’s something exceptional.
browneheather — August 28, 2010 @ 5:44 pm
The person around 1:45 has it right: wow. That is one heck of a song. They build toward that climax with about a minute and a half left and nail it so perfectly.
I too have been spinning their disc since you turned me onto them and have been telling everyone I can to check them out. It’s amazing how well crafted and perfect the songs are for a group that is so new. This song would have fit in so perfectly.
With summer slowly winding down I think I’ll be spending a lot of time listening to this group as the leaves change and the crisp mornings come upon us. I think it’s going to feel right.
Adam — August 30, 2010 @ 1:59 pm
wow. this performance can’t even be summed up in a few words. all i can say is, i’m glad i stumbled upon this! i always listen to bands regardless of what genre, “look”… but if they can say something and have meaning. you can very, very much see passion projected through in this video
lauren — September 14, 2010 @ 6:08 am
I just stumbled upon this post. So glad you liked the footage! That night was impossible to fully describe or capture but these videos did a pretty good job of it. We are fortunate to produce shows like this. Thanks for featuring it! We will be releasing a professional version of this sometime soon. So keep an eye out!
The Warehouse Tacoma — September 20, 2010 @ 4:21 pm
pretty incredible moments, there, warehouse folks. thanks for existing, and i’d love to come visit you sometime if that’s what your work ethic looks like
please let me know about the professional version when you have it. i’d love a review copy.
browneheather — September 20, 2010 @ 4:35 pm
Here is the official link http://vimeo.com/16510698 – We’re in love with it I hope you will be too!
The Warehouse Tacoma — February 7, 2011 @ 11:47 pm