Los Angeles – Music fans at Hollywood’s venerable Hotel Cafe were treated to an impressive display of songwriting and instrumental talent thanks to Dillon Hodges and his firekid project. Raised just across the Tennessee River from Muscle Shoals, firekid displays ample amounts of the region’s musical influence.
Performing as a three piece, that included a banjo player and drummer, the band’s sound was heavily rooted in folk and bluegrass, perfect for the eclectic-but-tranquil setting of the Hotel Café. Preparing for the release of their debut album this summer on Atlantic Records, firekid tested out some new material as well as showcasing their better-known singles.
The band has stumbled upon one of the most unique sounds in contemporary music, a perfectly arranged mélange of folk, electronica, and good old fashioned rock and roll. The vocals and the stringed instruments provided the most traditional elements, while small electronic flourishes created a more varied sound. The cherry on top was the drumming, which gave the songs some rock and roll power, a nice juxtaposition with the gentle-but-haunting folk songs.
Hodges was quite cordial between songs. He chatted and interacted with the audience for the entire length of the band’s set. Before playing one of the band’s first singles, the rollicking “Die For Alabama”, he expressed delight that his home state had finally agreed to remove the Confederate Flag from its statehouse. While he may express dismay at some of his state’s backward traditions, it is clear from the song that this artist loves the region that shaped him.
Vocally, Hodges has a voice that is perfect for folk rock. It has a twang with a bit of a baritone element – but not the exaggerated affectation that mainstream Nashville-sound country singers have been using for decades. Instead, his is a rich voice that delivers each vocal line in a clear fashion and makes it easy for the listener to discern the message.
Instrumentally, the band was on another level. Hodges won a national flat-picking contest when he was just 17 years old (then going on to earn not one, but two bachelor’s degrees), and his virtuosity was evident on every song. The coordination and chemistry between Hodges and his backing musicians was also paramount to the appeal of firekid. The songs were crammed full of complex chord changes, tons of finger-picking and flat-picking, and as mentioned earlier, some very hard-hitting drums.
The band finished off the set with one of the most unique songs in their repertoire, the grinding, sample-heavy “Magic Mountain”. Kicking off with a jangling electronic sample, the song has a gripping banjo/guitar riff that leads into Hodges taking on a sing-speaking cadence. There is a sense of longing and nostalgia to the song, and it was the clear highlight of the set. In fact, as the trio left the stage after the song, several audience members implored, “One more song! One more song!”
firekid (who was recently our Featured Artist) has several dates coming up in July and August, performing in New York City, Lansing, MI, Minneapolis, MN, and Sparta, KY at the NiNi Fest. Check the band’s website for updates on their forthcoming debut and any additional tour dates.
Photo of firekid live by Matt Matasci
Matt Matasci
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