Bad Weather California’s Chris Adolf (right) makes you believe music can change the world. Photos by Reverb contributor .
On the last Friday of the month the invites people to live in the moment, rock locally and declare “art is now” by attending its “Untitled” series. And when you enter the room where the local rock is happening, your first thought is for your ears because is seems as though the acoustics in that room are going to hurt them. However, on Friday it was the eyes that were accosted by set.
Playing to an entirely mixed up crowd –- art school students, museum patrons, punky high schoolers and old school hipsters — Bad Weather California stood in front of an art video projected on the wall, an almost seizure-inducing flash of illustrations initially, eventually calming down enough to allow showgoers a glance at the band.
And indeed, it was a whole band this time. Bad Weather California sometimes plays with just one member, Chris Adolf on vocals and guitar, but on Friday the crowd was graced with a pedal steel player, drummer and bassist. It was this addition that helped fill out Adolf’s sound and make the music of Bad Weather California a little more rocking.
With a sound reminiscent of Bright Eyes crossed with a bit of Dylan, Adolf sang songs that tended to address the sadder parts of life. And while sad can be good, and even necessary, eventually it can get to be a bit of a drag.
But Adolf is a singer that seems so earnest, so entirely engulfed in the message that he is delivering through his songs, that it is hard to fault him. Even if he occasionally forgets a line or a note, as he did on Friday, Adolf still somehow manages to make you believe music can someday change the world. And in the end that is the power and appeal of a Bad Weather California performance — not how happy they can make you, but rather the feeling that something can be done if you just listen up to what is wrong.
Check out more of Laurie Scavo’s photos:
For more of Reverb contributor Tiffany Child’s music writing, check out her blog .
All photos by Reverb contributor .
