Showing posts with label The Henry Clay People. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Henry Clay People. Show all posts

August 5, 2010

The Henry Clay People @ Crystal Ballroom

It must be awesome for a new band like the Henry Clay People to play a packed Crystal Ballroom. That place is huge. Of course, they didn't fill it by themselves, credit for that has to be shared with the Silversun Pickups and Against Me!, but they were definitely the band I was most excited to see. And the band delivered a rousing set of rock n' roll that garnered increasingly enthusiastic cheers at the end of each song. It's not surprising that they'd win over the Portland audience, since the band loves to sing about being young, broke, and in a band. Topics with which Portlanders can identify.

They seemed to be having fun, mixing in a few good lines in between their huge classic rock riffs and thumping drums filled the room. You could tell they were happy playing together and living their rock and roll dream. The singer demonstrated his brotherly affection for the guitarist in the form of playful punches and jumping on his back as he soloed. With only one album to their name, they of course played my favorite songs and I went home very satisfied.

Henry Clay People - End of an Empire from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

July 20, 2010

The Henry Clay People - Somewhere On The Golden Coast

The Henry Clay People rank right up there with Free Energy as this summer's go-to for good timing rock n' roll. With their amps turned up and drums pounding, they channel that timeless sound of parties, bars, driving fast, and sleeping on couches. The songs are jam packed with sweet riffs, sing-along choruses, tinkling keys, and bashed cymbals. While the Replacements, Sam Roberts and many more have been there before, their youthful exuberance keeps it fresh and fun. I love the live-in-the-moment anthem of "End Of An Empire". It charges and soars with nicely-timed phrasing."Your Famous Friends" (mp3) ratchets it up with a chorus perfectly punctuated with barroom cheers. While those two are the standout tracks, the whole album is great, solid throughout.

They are playing the Crystal Ballroom on July 29th. You can bet I'll be there with a beer in hand ready to cheer them on.