Seeing The Helio Sequence live is a cathartic experience. Since they’re touring in support of what may be their most introspective and meditative album yet, Negotiations, this makes complete sense. Guitarist/vocalist Brandon Summers and Drummer/keyboardist Benjamin Weikel come off as mellow, understated folk who have a keen sense for spacious, atmospheric compositions, and who are also impressively good at their instruments. The two have been playing together since 1996, and in both their refined manner and honed sound, their experience shows.
Summers is the most subtle. Most of the time he was a shadowy silhouette against the Bowery Ballroom stage lights, and when the lights waned he was still facing up to the mic with eyes closed. He busted out a harmonica on a couple tunes, and also ripped out some intricate guitar solos. When he took the spotlight, it was energetic enough to be rock and roll, but so controlled and precise that it was science. In contrast, Weikel was animated and hard-hitting. His see-through drum kit had lights pointed at it, so him and his kit glowed red to blue to white while his facial expressions changed with every hit. He was the beat and the time, the whole time.
None of this was lost on the crowd, and the indubitable reactions between songs prompted Summers to ask, “can I take you guys with me?” That was more flattering for the crowd, as it’s hard to believe The Helio Sequence wouldn’t have that kind of reaction every night. Apparently they also often had hecklers shouting that they need a bassist, which Summers acknowledged and casually swatted off.
Ramona Falls played right before, and had similar adulation and even more heckling. They had a good number of fans that seemed to be there specifically for them, yelling out song requests and dancing during the set. Although fronted by Brent Knopf, formerly one third of Menomena, drummer Paul Alcott (still currently in Menomena) took lead on much of the commentary between songs, standing up to grasp the microphone perched by his kit, speaking in an affected “normal” voice, and then getting crazy eyes before bouncing back down in his drum throne. The violinist also had an important role in the band, as the extra texture of strings felt very important in the arrangements. She also wasn’t afraid to get in the front row’s face a little and respond to one particularly vocal song-requesting fan. That fan got his wish a couple songs later, when she pointed to him and said, “this is for you!” That’s when they played “Russia,” and the crowd went wild.
Brooklyn’s own Slowdance opened the night, sounding the best they’ve ever sounded. Of course, the fact that they were playing Bowery Ballroom may have had a hand in that. Regardless, they played the best I’ve ever seen them, and that’s very much to their own credit. Touring with a band like The Helio Sequence must have it’s payoffs, and Slowdance has returned home to break out of their emerging-band cocoon to sound more established and refined in their own right.
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