Born in the Flood’s Nathaniel Rateliff gave his all at the Hi-Dive on Thursday. The buzzy Denver band played to a packed house that included execs from a large label looking to possibly sign the band. Photos by .
It was no secret that some suits from a record label were going to be sniffing around the on Thursday night to see if were their musical bag. At first, I thought their presence was insider knowledge, but after Facebook invited me to show up and fill the place — and after some random dude at the bar told me “a big label from New York is here scouting Born in the Flood!” — it was obvious why the weird vibes were rampant and not-so-Denver feeling.
As I looked around at the pool of unfamiliar faces filling my hipster clubhouse, the Hi-Dive was magically transformed into Wayne’s Basement, and Born in the Flood was Crucial Taunt playing for Mr. Big – only Nathaniel Rateliff wasn’t wearing a lace corset, and I didn’t see the record execs (but I’m guessing they didn’t have a cigars hanging out of their mouths).
Rateliff was wearing his infamous mustache, however, which draped over a genuine smile stretching ear to ear. As Born and the Flood ran through songs like “Anthem,” “I’ll Be Damned” and “There and Missing,” the awkward crowd stopped milling about long enough to stare up at Rateliff and bassist Joseph Pope’s guitar necks slashing at each other in the muggy air.
Positions and instruments on stage shifted throughout the set, Rateliff playing guitar and singing, sitting for some songs at a Rhodes piano and a synthesizer as the band gleefully shelled out “Breaks your Heart.” “In Debt to the Heart” followed, vocals intertwining with the graceful melody, all band members grinning brightly over the organ tones and faint, painted-on drum beats.
“I’ll Lead Them Out” was a glistening end to the showy set, Ratecliffe’s voice resonating high at the top of a layered and creaky build-up. Born in the Flood graciously thanked their audience and stepped down from the high stage with pride gleaming off their teeth.
Up until this show, Born in the Flood had somehow eluded me. I don’t know if that made me the best writer to review this show or the worst, as it was hard to tell how much of the performance was dog and pony or legitimate excitement. I would much prefer to see them in a more organic situation, when the band isn’t under the heavy lens of a microscope. Regardless, their show at the Hi-Dive Thursday night was impressive to me as newbie, and I take it for what it was — pretty sweet.
Broken Spindles
Born in the Flood
