Augustines at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (17 March 2014) concert review

“…we have a spill on Aisle Two…”



‘…that is called an anti-climatic moment!”, Augustines singer/guitarist Billy McCarthy joked as lights had gone down, intro music had begun, and the band was just about to launch into their opening song… then, nothing.



A frayed guitar cable had derailed that momentarily, but that was the end of their bad luck, playing a triumphant and seared-in-the-memory, two+ hour set, last week at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis. The crowd present never had it so lucky for St. Patrick’s Day.

Augustines

The Brooklyn trio (now calling Seattle their home), is promoting their self-titled sophomore effort (on Caroline/Oxcart Records) and has been out headlining since early February, after a tour with Frightened Rabbit. They had their share of other bad luck leading up to the Minneapolis show as well—from their van breaking down in sub-zero temperatures leaving Canada, to tour opener, My Goodness, having to leave all together with an unshakeable bout of strep and bronchitis, but everything changed in Minneapolis, once that problem cable was switched.



‘Headlong into the Abyss’ started the main set and could describe the straight ahead, devil-may-care passion in which they delivered their incendiary songs. McCarthy, along with co-collaborator Eric Sanderson and UK drummer Rob Allen made an immediate connection with the audience to their own brand of blue collar, from-the-heart barroom rock, in a rare way that only a few like The Boss and Seger do. “So many great memories here”, McCarthy smiled, clearly realizing this would be an out-of-the-ordinary show.



‘Chapel Song’ followed, the lead track from their debut, 2011’s Rise Ye Sunken Ships, McCarthy singing the verses with a perpetual hunger and passion that was reminiscent of prime-era Springsteen, as Sanderson switched between bass and keys. “This song is where we got our name”, McCarthy said to intro ‘Augustine’, happy that the Gibson he had damaged the night before on stage, was back in working order.



Drummer Allen pounded mightily on a meager kit in the dimly lit back of the stage as McCarthy sang verses like his life depended on it, slamming his back into the concrete wall on stage right as he ferociously strummed his guitar.

Billy McCarthy

There is an admirable roughness about McCarthy’s voice and their overall sound, all happily imperfect for the sake of realness and an uncompromising spirit to their music and live shows. “Are you guys in it, for a little while?” McCarthy asked, diving into ‘Don’t You Look Back’.



“Take, take this voice and all its songs from my insides, and spread them out over the waves”, McCarthy shouted on ‘Walkabout’ from the new record, a song that moves from gentle piano ballad to crashing anthem. “I think that’s the best we’ve ever played that”, McCarthy would remark after. The band ended on an exclamation point, with ‘Nothing to Lose But Your Head’, but things were actually just getting started.

Setlist Photo

The almost hour-long encore began with McCarthy and Sanderson playing off-mic and acoustic at the edge of the stage and before long, both were in the middle of the audience, with drummer Allen and a box soon following, with guitars passed by the audience, over heads and to/from the band’s music tech.



“Let go of all your ghosts, you’ve got to let go, go easy on yourself” sang McCarthy in a quiet ‘Now You Are Free’, clearly feeding off the interactive vibe of the room.

Middle of the St Patrick’s Day crowd

The encore continued as a truly “had-to-be-there” experience as the band stepped into middle of the crowd, playing Pela songs McCarthy wrote when he was 19, and other deep cuts. McCarthy then climbed a counter to sit and strum a moving ‘Weary Eyes’ that had the crowd chanting the chorus and illuminating him and Sanderson, with lights from their smartphones.



“This is the one that brings it all back home”, McCarthy mentioned, introducing ‘New Drink for the Old Drunk’, the final song in this mini-marathon, which the crowd obliged by singing and stomping along and wishing the band would play another two+ hours.



Augustines more than delivered with a mesmerizing and engaging live performance and if the Minneapolis date is any indication, this has to be a band on your “must see live” list.

john
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