Church in Session With Daniel Rossen

Austin – It makes perfect sense to turn a downtown church in to a concert venue. With echoing acoustics and the lights dim save for a single cross hanging backlit on the wall, almost eerily, it allows for the music to become somewhat of a religious experience. Music can save. Music can lift us up. Music can bring us together. Music can guide us. The Central Presbyterian Church of Austin holds selective shows and on Friday, the church hosted Daniel Rossen. “We’ve been playing a lot of unique spaces this tour,” he told the audience.

Making his name as a lead vocalist/guitarist with Grizzly Bear and Department of Eagles, Rossen released a solo record under his own name in 2012, “Silent Hour/Golden Mile.” Some artists stray from their signature sound to prove they’re truly solo or show the expanse of their talents. With Rossen, his solo work only confirms why we loved his work with Grizzly Bear and Department of Eagles and just how much he contributed to those projects. His music is the type that takes you on a journey and that you put on each time you go on a journey. It’s the reason why I can remember the very first day I bought “Veckatimest” and listened to it twice through on a bed in Santa Cruz. His voice flutters sweetly and hauntingly and made that much more of an impact in a church with each pew filled. He sang “If that lord up on high/Is nearer to me/Pray for me” and no one in the room was rolling their eyes about church on a Friday night. No one in the room missed the booze filled venues of sixth street. We were thankful to be close together with strangers in the pews.

Perhaps it was the casual environment or Rossen’s welcoming banter but it felt as though we were watching an old familiar friend. His presence was comforting, like singing around a campfire. Taking to the baby grand piano for “Herron Bow,” a Department of Eagles song, Rossen became even closer to the audience both physically and intimately. His instrumentals on both guitar and piano tend to be light and plucky but still bring to mind a twinkling symphony. Toward the end of his set, Rossen even pulled out a banjo but noted it was the only time he had ever and will ever play banjo live. Still with his signature plucky sound, he continued to pull the audience close to him.

Though the track I played most off his 2012 EP was the title track, “Silent Hour/Golden Mile,” hearing it played live breathed new life. Suddenly I felt the urge to take a long drive to the desert with the windows down and the song playing loud, but it just wasn’t practical that evening.

Rossen tried out a few new tracks, some he was still working out. If he was considering the show to be a bonafied practice, it was one hell of a practice. New tracks could hint at further solo releases to come. I’m happy with any new music Mr. Rossen decides to release and any project he chooses to release it under. This is an artist with immense talent that spans far beyond road trip music.

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Ilyse Kaplan

Growing up in Boston, MA, Ilyse Kaplan was an avid music fan so she followed her passion to Los Angeles.Unable to decide whether to be Penny Lane or William from "Almost Famous," she combined their best assets--William's writing skills and Penny's fashion--and joined her guitarist boyfriend Southwest.Though missing her old haunts like The Echo and The Satellite, she has warmly embraced the Austin music community and looks forward to sharing the hidden gems she comes across wandering aimlessly down east 6th st.Her record collection holds no boundaries from 60's Yeh Yeh girls like Francoise Hardy to her imaginary hip hop boyfriend, Drake.From the kings of morose, The Smiths, to the reigning queen, Taylor Swift.Having written for publications such as Variety, LADYGUNN, and Filter in the past, she looks forward to reporting Austin's Best New Bands live from the scene.