We all know September is “local summer,” and the recent concerts at Gallagher Square have been a welcome addition to the season. Saturday night’s presentation of The Revivalists, Band of Horses, and The Heavy Heavy was no exception; all three bands enamored the not-quite-sold-out audience on a warm, breezy evening.
The Heavy Heavy put forth their first published music in 2022, and the relative newcomers could have been teleported straight from Laurel Canyon’s rich history of 60s and 70s music development (despite their UK origins). Their song Miles and Miles is a crowd-pleaser, and would easily fit in (and I say this as the utmost compliment) on a Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem album. The band was the perfect support for the music that followed, and expect to see more from them in the future.
Band of Horses co-headlined the show, providing over an hour of hits dating back to 2006. Whie Ben Bridwell has been the band’s sole constant member since its founding, the music has remained consistent; newer jam Laredo is just as good as tried and true classics Casual Party and The Funeral. Bridwell and the band songs considered best served for a night of big sonic chill and turn them in to engaging live renditions, engaging the wide age range – from about 4 all the way up to former Woodstock attendees.
The Revivalists last came through town with Kaaboo 2019, playing a mid-afternoon set (and featuring the late Bob Sagat). The band has gelled since then, presenting a musically-tight set to an audience of people who knew every word. The band extended radio hits Wish I Knew You and Kidin to long encore jams, joined by The Heavy Heavy to add even more sound to their typical 8-piece set up. Frontman David Shaw bounced energetically all over the stage, connecting with the broad audience while sporting the custom Padres jersey provided by the team. Indeed, the whole band was lively, with slide guitar player Ed Williams and brass player Rob Ingraham constantly moving and dancing. The band left the entire audience grooving on their way out the doors, back in to the downtown night.
If given the opportunity to attend a Gallagher Square show, we highly recommend it; future dates can be found here.
By: David Israel