Not much could make me want to leave a cool Seattle summer for the grueling humidity and heat of the American southeast. I was just about ready to pack up my stuff and travel back to Athens, Georgia when Futurebirds played Barboza on July 10. Nestled cozily underneath the more prominent Neumos, Barboza hosted the touring southerners Futurebirds. While initially skeptical of the small size of the venue relative to the cred of the band, it became immediately apparent that Futurebirds knows how to play to a room and crowd of any size.
Recorded, the band reads cleanly as a rock-infused Americana/folk group; live, however, these labels reverse roles and Futurebirds becomes an edgy, hard group with just hints of folk. Keeping their Americana style in check, the lap steel guitar is an integral part of the band’s live show. Futurebirds made me regret more than ever before turning down an invitation to attend a lap steel guitar convention years ago because the subtle power of this instrument was immediately apparent. It was almost a paternal figure for the group, allowing the guitarists to explore new sounds and personalities but always keeping them in check with its steady linger.
While the gig was no stranger to technical difficulties, the band played through them all. Guitar straps failed and bass amps blew, but every minor misstep that happened somehow led to an uninvited and welcome turn of events. During a brief break to fix an amp, the unoccupied members of the band digressed into a slow and pensive jam that we can only hope turns into a future full song. It was like we were witnessing the band’s compositional process before our eyes (except afterwards we got to hear already polished and mastered songs!). Seattle’s Neighbors and Nashville’s Diarrhea Planet opened for Futurebirds. Diarrhea Planet is perhaps one of the more unpleasant names for a band, but the unpleasantness with the band stops there. They played pretty punk songs about beer and partying so it made for a fun, moshy time that even led to one fellow limping away drenched in sweat (but thankfully not blood). Neighbors, par for the course, played a winning set of casual yet edgy tracks. You can (and should) check out if Futurebirds will be near you on their continued US tour at their official website (where you can also check out music from their April release, Baba Yaga).
Photo: Futurebirds at Bonnaroo by House of Hayes
