I went to three concerts in three days last week. I’ve done it before, but never before have I had THIS much fun. On my final night, I ventured into Brooklyn to see Dinosaur Feathers. I’d hear some of their music before, but since they’ve yet to release an album, my experiences listening to them are limited.
The gig was at the Sycamore in the Flatbush-Ditmas Park area. It took a brutal walk in the freezing cold to get there, but as I was soon to find out, the walk would be well worth it. Pearl and the Beard opened up for Dinosaur Feathers, and were absolutely phenomenal. The gig was in a tiny basement of a bar, and was packed full of fans and friends of the bands. This created a unique atmosphere in which the crowd was pounding on the floor in beat with the songs, and singing loudly along. In between songs, the band would listen to shouts from the audience. It was a really pleasant environment.
Pearl and the Beard played music from their various albums, and really blew me away. They all had beautiful voices, and used a wide variety of folk instruments (glockenspiel, accordion, cello, etc.). I was really intrigued by Emily Hope Prince’s cello playing. She gently plucked the strings of her gorgeous instrument with such precision! By the end of their set, I was determined that I could possibly have a new favorite folk band. Remember the name, Pearl and the Beard (for more info on the band, check out their MySpace page here).
Later in the evening, Dinosaur Feathers finally came on stage. With their new album ready to hit shelves March 2nd. Unlike Pearl and the Beard, they played very upbeat pop songs. I really liked their style, and the lead singer’s (Doug) vocal swagger. Song after song, I was impressed by their stage presence, and ability to interact with the crowd.
The audience was even crazier than when Pearl and the Beard was on stage. People were standing on their seats, banging the ceiling, singing loudly along. I felt a bit left out not knowing their lyrics. Though their debut album, Fantasy Memorial, hits shelves March 2nd, they sound like weathered veterans of the music scene. They are experiences beyond their years, and exude confidence with their every move.
Check out their MySpace (click here), or head over to their website (click here) for some free MP3s. Definitely check them out if they’re performing anywhere close by. Below are a couple of my favorite songs by them.
