Bad Weather California’s mostly-acoustic performance at Swallow Hill on Saturday offered a subtly different take on the band’s invigorating folk-rock. Photos and review by.
“We’re , and we’re a rock and roll band!” said frontman Chris Adolf at the outset what was billed as a “rare acoustic” (well, almost) performance on Saturday at , a landmark venue and home to folk musicians in Denver since the 1970s. This declaration seemed some sort of pre-emptive excuse for any non-folky antics to come, but really, this foursome needn’t have worried considering the abundance of genuine talent and spirit they possess.
Seated onstage in the intimate Tuft Theater with what could be called a “semi-acoustic” set up, I was surprised that the band chose not to take full advantage of the very quiet setting — as well as an audience accustomed to being attentive to every strum and note.
Denver singer-songwriter Rachael Pollard.
This setting was more than perfect for local folk guitarist and songwriter , who opened the show with her warm voice and finger-strummed songs. She performed songs from her self-released full length, “A Good Thing,” as well as several new pieces, projecting an unrestrained and genuine warmth.
Bad Weather California looked slightly cramped on the small stage and the only acoustic instrument in sight was Adolf’s gleaming six-string guitar, so really, the term “stripped-down” might be more appropriate in this case. As far as I could tell, they were playing all their usual instruments, minus the pedal steel and maybe a drum or two. (Even the piano was mic’d!) Overall the sound was quite loud but still more clear and contained than their usual fiery live performances.
The always-charismatic Adolf discussed his folk beginnings growing up in Grand Junction, where he was inspired to make music at a young age, but couldn’t find any cohorts to play with. So he began to write his own songs and teach himself the acoustic guitar and soon became known as the Love Letter Band, which played house shows and basements for years around Colorado and the southwest.
Today Adolf is still the main songwriter behind the music and the current line-up performs many Love Letter Band Songs, such as the wonderful and warm “Love Will Be My Home.”
After a few nervous jokes and laughs, Bad Weather launched into the anthemic “New Religion,” the opening track on their recently-released album “Young Punks” (on Portland-based States Rights Records) and from there they had the audience’s rapt attention with one of the most rockin’ shows ever performed sitting down.
“Is it tacky to drink beer in here?” asked Adolf before taking a swig of cheap beer before anyone could answer. he soldiered on with more cuts from the album, including “This Is My Country Too,” the sweet ballad “Let’s Go to Bed” and the uplifting “Good Things Will Happen.” Followed by several brand new and untitled songs, their sound was crisp and clear and heartfelt as ever.
After seeing Bad Weather too many times to count over the years, I found it refreshing to see them play at Swallow Hill. Adolf’s fantastic lyrics resounded so much more clearly in a quieter environment, even with all that electricity. Showcasing his band members’ many talents, Adolf handed off the mic to Adam Baumeister (Littles Paia) who, backed by the band, sang his winsome tune entitled “Springtime” from his self-released album “Dew on the Needles.”
Next Joe Sampson (A Dog Paloma, Wentworthy Kersey) traded in his electric bass for Adolf’s guitar to strum a lonesome ballad known only as “The ’50s Song,” backed by the driving accompaniment of his fellow band members. Jamming through more songs such as “Letap Get High,” “1992” and “I Dreamed,” as well as several unnamed new tracks, Bad Weather California just couldn’t hold back their gusto for blazing up the stage, proving that they are a band thatap always ready to rock — whether you are or not.
Follow Reverb on Twitter! !
Sarah Slater lives and breathes music and spends her time playing records, and riding her bicycle around town, searching for treasure. She is curating the bands for , a ladies experimental music fest happening in Denver this summer.
