The band presented exquisitely crafted tunes during a sold out night at the Bowery Ballroom.
It’s 9:01 p.m. on a Monday night at the Bowery Ballroom and people are sprinting up the stairs to an already packed bottom floor. Ruling out the need to hit a FitBit step count or some other reason we would be sprinting up the stairs at night, I started to wonder: What’s going on? Did we “fall forward” too far? Did I get the time of the show wrong?
Nope.
Upon the first note of the first opener (there were two), it’s clear why we’re all here so early: For these folk inspired bands, their size and talent were almost too big for this stage.
On Monday November 9, The Oh Hellos shared their honest and haunting musical work with the Bowery Ballroom. But we were saying “Oh, Hello!” long before to their openers as well. The band headlined with support from Cereus Bright and Family and Friends, both playing to an already packed house. Both Cereus Bright and The Oh Hellos filled the stage with members – the more, the merrier! As for friends of The Oh Hellos, this sold out crowd of dedicated fans included a couple who drove 9 hours from Canada and several more who had seen the band before. Certainly an impressive feat for a group who only recently put out a new full length album (Dear Wormwood) and are playing on a Monday night at 11:00 p.m.
It is simply impossible not to be soothingly drawn in by Maggie Heath’s vocals. It’s like she reaches out to each audience member, pulls politely on their hand, and invites them to revel in the gentle, playful, tone of her voice while simultaneously learning about the Heath family. “There is beauty in the ways of things,” she cooed, and indeed, there is an abundance of beauty in the way that The Oh Hellos play. Everyone has a role in this magical cacophony of music. A banjo sneaks in and a graceful electric guitar follows; the two drummers with a full kit each play off each other’s rhythm to add depth and energy. It’s awe inspiring stuff for musicians and non-musicians alike. From the first note to the last note, I am reminded how expertly and intentionally crafted their album is; how intricate and simple their songs are at the same time. Maggie’s brother, Tyler, stood center stage and lead The Oh Hellos through their breathtaking numbers, as well as a series of jokes and discussion around a zombie apocalypse.
And while no dead were walking tonight, running was definitely happening. If people stepped out, they sprinted back in, beers in tow, breathless from the stairs, immediately singing along to the precious lyrics. Apparently, that’s what people do at The Oh Hello shows: they know that they are missing special if they don’t sprint back in.
When they come to your town, you should do the same. Well, at least to the ticket counter.
For more about The Oh Hellos and to check out their new album Dear Wormwood, head to http://www.theohhellos.com/
